How Do You Raise Children Who Rarely Get Sick?

What foods can you give your child to support their immune system and help them grow into exceptionally healthy children? Naturopath and holistic health expert Jessica Donovan answers that question in this in-depth interview with Dr Kaz on the Mum’s The Word Podcast. Jessica also created an e-book, ‘5 Food Secrets of Kids Who Rarely Get Sick’, to help parents support their children’s immune systems with real food. As a preview, here are three creative tips. Listen to the full interview via the link below.

Cut sugar from your children’s diet

We all know that sugar can make children excitable, but did you know that it can also affect their immune system? Jessica compares sugar to a ‘chill pill’ for the immune system because it reduces white blood cell activity, making it harder for those cells to protect us against bugs that are common in winter. Reduce refined sugar in your child’s diet by cutting back on sugary breakfast cereals, processed sweet snacks and sugary drinks.

Brightly coloured foods for children

Brightly coloured whole foods, and we do not mean Smarties, contain antioxidants and phytochemicals that support children’s immune systems. Blueberries, beetroot, baby spinach, pumpkin and kiwi fruit are all good sources of antioxidants. Put plenty of colour on your children’s plates and encourage them to try foods such as goji berries, cacao nibs and acai.

Get groovy with the good bugs

Good bacteria, also known as probiotics or beneficial bacteria, play many roles in health. The immune system uses these bacteria to help recognise whether it should attack an intruder, and a healthy colony of beneficial bacteria in the gut may help protect against colds and other infections. Babies born by caesarean section or fed with formula, as well as children who regularly take antibiotics or eat a high-sugar diet, may have lower levels of these protective bacteria. To increase your child’s levels of beneficial bacteria, Jessica suggests fermented foods such as yoghurt or homemade fermented vegetables, as well as a good-quality probiotic supplement.

Listen to the full interview with Jessica Donovan here, on the Mum’s The Word Podcast.