Does your child often experience flu, coughing, or even other infectious diseases? Of course, if the baby is sick a little, surely the parents feel anxious and worried. If this happens to your child, it might be because your baby's immune system is weak.
Don't worry, you can, make your child's immune system stronger. You can give the child food that contains vitamins and minerals that are good for the immune system. Then, what vitamins and minerals do children need to avoid being attacked by disease?
Various vitamins and minerals that are effective in increasing a child's immune system
You could say the immune system is a human defense system against viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and other foreign substances that are the source of disease. So, when the immune system decreases, all sources of the disease will easily enter the body.
But calm down, you can, make the baby's immune system stronger by providing the following vitamins and minerals.
1. Vitamin C
If you've heard, vitamin C is often referred to as an antioxidant. Yes, antioxidants in the body play an important role in strengthening the immune system. In some theories it is stated that vitamin C can prevent the occurrence of free radical processes that can make the body's cells damaged.
In addition, the ability of other recognized vitamin C is to help stimulate the production of white blood cells - cells that become ‘forces' in the immune system. You can find vitamin C in fruits such as strawberries, oranges, mangoes, and kiwi.
2. Vitamin E
Almost similar to vitamin C, vitamin E also acts as an antioxidant that is able to protect children's body cells from destructive foreign substances. In one study, it was found that vitamin E can increase the work of B cells and T cells that the body uses as forces in the immune system. You can get Vitamin E from vegetables with leafy greens and nuts.
3. Vitamin A
Vitamin A is not only good for eye health, but also has functions in the body's immune system. Some studies suggest that vitamin A deficiency can cause children to experience diarrhea, skin problems, and other infectious diseases. Foods that contain high vitamin A are beef liver, beef, carrots, and various kinds of yellow and orange vegetables.
4. Vitamin B
B vitamins are many kinds, but most of these vitamins have important functions in the body's immune system. B vitamins that have been shown to play a role in the body's immunity are vitamin B12, folic acid and vitamin B6. Folic acid itself, mentioned in a study if children who lack folic acid, tend to be susceptible to infectious diseases.
Meanwhile, vitamin B12 has the ability to make white blood cells work better against foreign substances. Vitamin B is found in many sources of animal protein, such as fish, beef and chicken. In addition, some B vitamins are also found in nuts, for example soybeans.
5. Zinc
This mineral has an important function in the growth of your child. Not only that, zinc has been proven in a study, has the ability to increase the immune system response and reduce the risk of inflammation in the body. In food, zinc is found in beef, chicken, milk, shellfish, and some nuts.
6. Iron
In the immune system, iron has the responsibility to activate B cells and T cells which act as invaders of foreign substances. Not only that, iron is also effective in reducing the risk and level of inflammation that occurs in the body, so that the child is protected from infectious diseases.
It's not difficult to find iron in food. You can get it from beef liver, beef, chicken, and some types of vegetables such as spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables.