Boost Your Immune System This Winter

Parenting
Written By Guest User

Written by Mandy at Simple and Sage Co

Is there anything more daunting as a parent than attempting to survive the cold and flu season? Here are four Canadian-made supplements that can help boost your child’s immune systems at home.

Disclaimer: This article is not medical advice; it is based on personal opinion and anecdotal information. Please consult a doctor if your child is sick, and always take time to research supplements to ensure they are a good fit for your family.

Every parent can attest to how daunting it is to have a sick kiddo at home – the lack of sleep, constant worry, never-ending piles of tissues. We’ve all been there. There is no magic to prevent your child from getting sick, especially during peak cold and flu season when they are bombarded with illnesses, but you can help to boost their immune system.

With my eldest daughter being a January baby, she started daycare during the height of running noses, nasty colds, and fevers. Not only was I trying to adjust with my return to work, I then had the added pressure of trying to handle the phone calls from daycare letting me know that I had to pick her up because she was sick, again. I started to read about supplements I could incorporate into our routine to support my kids' immune health. It’s not foolproof- my kids still get sick, but now I feel like I have a fighting chance.

I pride myself on being a smart consumer in that I do as much research as I can when I make purchases. Supplements are expensive and marketing bombards mothers in the throes of illnesses with suggestions on the best ones - it’s overwhelming to know where to start. I get it, I’ve been there - I am still there sometimes. If you’re like me and looking for ways to bolster your families immune systems this winter, read on to find out my favourite supplements for giving everyone their best shot of staying healthy and recovering quickly.

So which vitamins and minerals support immune health?

Here’s what I found:

  • Vitamin C

    • Haven’t we all heard of the benefits of Vitamin C! Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and supports your white blood cells. For your kids immune system this means it helps their bodies produce and protect immune cells.

    • Your kids can get Vitamin C by munching on tasty fruits and veggies like oranges and bell peppers. 

  • Vitamin D

    • Vitamin D is key! It offers so much immune system support for kids like helping their body fight viruses by activating immune cells. 

    • We all know vitamin d from sunshine but when cold and flu season is at its peak we see less and less of our friend Mr. Sun.

    • It is also known that children are not getting enough Vitamin D from food sources

  • Zinc

    • Zinc is an underrated immune system booster for kids! Where Vitamin C and D are, well, vitamins zinc is a mineral like magnesium. It supports immune cell development and helps your body respond quickly to a virus. Deficiency in zinc can lead to a weakened immune system. 

These supplements can be found in many forms, some liquid, powder, gummy and pill. These are a few of my favourites.

A powerhouse supplement is Organika Kids Liquid Zinc with Vitamin C because it includes both vitamin C and zinc in one formula and it tastes good – WIN!  This supplement can be used for kids ages 1-13 and tops out at the increased recommended daily intake giving them a good boost of both essential nutrients.

Vitamin D drops are easy to incorporate, even adding it to the liquid zinc and vitamin c! Liquid Vitamin D drops can range from 400 IU to 1,000 IU per drop so depending on the age of your kiddos you might want to choose the lower dose if you have a child under 12 months and add more drops for older children. You can easily add more drops to reach the recommended increased daily intake.

You might notice I choose liquid formulas – that is intentional. Liquid formulas often have less additives, are easier to absorb, and can be added to things like a smoothie. You know what will work best for your kids! My kids don’t mind taking the liquid with a bit of juice and they don’t mind the flavour of the Organika formula. 

If a gummy would be better for your kids the Jamieson Kids Vitamin C + D3 gummies. These gummies have Vitamin C, D3 and zinc so you only need one product!

Despite a strong baseline, we all get sick sometimes, so what can you do to support your child’s immune system beyond the basics?

It is inevitable that your kiddos will likely get sick, no matter how much preparation you put in. The hope is with these daily supplements they won’t get sick as frequently and will be able to fight off a virus more quickly because their body is prepared. Here are my go to’s:

  • Elderberry

    • My first line of defense is always elderberry. It is a traditional remedy for immune system support. Elderberry is something you can incorporate into your daily routine but it’s especially beneficial when your child is sick. 

    • When used at the onset of a cold, elderberry may shorten the duration of a cold, lessen the severity of symptoms, and support the immune system response. 

  • Propolis 

    • Propolis is a little more obscure than elderberry but packs a big punch. What is it? Propolis is a natural resin-like substance collected by bees and used to protect the hive from viruses and bacteria – see where I’m going!

    • Propolis is great for a sore throat as it not only coats their throat but reduces inflammation. It may also reduce the severity of symptoms and the duration of the cold.

  • Echinacea

    • Like elderberry, echinacea is a traditional remedy used for colds. It may shorten the duration of a cold, lessen the severity of symptoms, and support the immune system response. 

  • Raw Honey

    • Our teeny black and yellow workers have another magical cold remedy they make naturally. Raw Honey is the nectar collected and processed by bees. Where propolis has a ton of benefits to support immune health, raw honey is more for soothing. Used together propolis and raw honey support your child’s immune system and soothes symptoms like a sore throat by coating. 

All of the above are available in many different forms for kids including syrups, gummies, and sprays. It’s also great that some products combine them so you don’t have to decorate your counter with jars of cold remedies.  It is important to note that these products are suited for children above the age of 1 because of the use of raw honey. 

The powerhouse product in my home is Suro Kids Elderberry Syrup. It combines organic Canadian elderberry, extracts of elderflower, propolis and raw honey.

If your kiddos are a fan of the taste or drinking the syrup I am a fan of these Herbaland Kids Immune Bears. These gummies pack echinacea, elderberry, zinc, and vitamin D3. 

I love the Beekeeper’s Natural Propolis Spray for Kids for combating germs while giving relief from a sore throat. 

Your kiddos might not love having you spray the back of their throat so these Beekeeper’s Naturals Kid’s Wellness Wands are a great alternative with the same benefits. These come in flavours like green apple, strawberry and mixed berry with ingredients like elderberry, propolis extract, vitamin D, zinc and honey. 

Where to buy?

Like the By the North community, I am a big believer in purchasing from Canadian companies and selecting products with Canadian ingredients where I can. All of the products I have included in this post are from Canadian brands like Suro, Beekeeper’s Naturals, Organika, and Herbaland. All of the links provided are from Well.ca where you can purchase not only these immune system boosting products but you’re bound to find your next favourite while browsing. 

Cold and flu season is a daunting time for parents as we send our kids out to school, activities, and play dates, knowing they amount of germs they’ll meet. It’s why I feel good helping to boost my kid’s immune systems by incorporating vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and zinc, and why I feel prepared with natural remedies like elderberry and honey. 


SOURCES:

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