5 tips to enhance your child's immunity during the rainy season

Monsoon sure provides relief from the blazing sun but it also brings a host of ailments, seasonal flu and infections. Pollution, water contamination and temperature fluctuations combine to contribute to the spread of several water-borne diseases, like typhoid and diarrhoea. Besides, due to heavy rain, water stagnant in many places serves as the breeding ground for mosquitoes, thus leading to cases of malaria and dengue. Under these circumstances, children, due to their low immunity, are most susceptible to diseases in monsoon. Hence, enhancing their immunity levels is the best way to keep your kids fit and healthy and ensure that they enjoy the rainy season at its best!

Here are some quick tips to boost immunity during the monsoon season –

1.     Make healthy food choices

Kids love junk food. Fries, pizzas, pasta, creamy pastries and doughnuts – name it and they will want it all. But monsoon is definitely not the season to give in to their cravings. As a parent, you will need to make some healthy and smart food choices for your child. Give them home-cooked, light meals only. Fast foods tend to be oily, spicy, and greasy, and are likely to cause a host of digestive problems. Instead, opt for a nutritious meal comprising of citrus fruits, leafy greens, whole grains and healthy fats.

Oats, salads, a wholesome sandwich with the right amount of protein, home-cooked daal, rice, and curry are the best options to boost immunity. Besides, many natural ingredients and organic herbs found in the kitchen are in fact the finest immunity boosters. The most common examples are Neem, Ginger, Turmeric powder, and Fenugreek seeds – these natural antibiotics are known to boost metabolism, improve digestion, and enhance immunity.

2.     Provide them with enough fluids

Kids tend to feel less thirsty and, therefore, drink less water during monsoon than they usually do in summer. However, not drinking enough water throughout the day can spell trouble for the body and immunity. This often results in dehydration, headache, fatigue etc. Therefore, your child must drink at least 6-8 glasses of water every day. You should provide them with boiled or filtered water to avoid the risk of tummy infections. Once they get the habit of drinking enough water, you can increase their fluid intake by providing them more of water-based veggies and fruits, smoothies and juice. A warm bowl of soup or broth can also build a strong immunity. Not only are they nutritious, but also they meet the body’s daily water requirement.

3.     Encourage physical activities

Encourage your kids to indulge in some sort of physical activity – yoga, dance, aerobics, anything. This increases blood circulation in the body and helps pump the antibodies and WBCs – the immune cells that help fight infections. Exercising regularly helps flush out the bacteria from the airways and lungs, thus reducing the chances of getting the flu or cold. Just an hour of physical activity at least 4-5 days of the week in the form of pilates, yoga, or aerobic should be sufficient to enhance children’s immunity.

4.     Instil good hygiene habits

Bacteria and infections multiply at an alarming rate particularly during monsoon when the surroundings are contaminated, polluted and dirty. Instruct your kids to stay away from mosquito-infested areas and avoid playing in the puddles. Make sure they get into the habit of washing hands several times throughout the day to keep them clean and bacteria-free. You should also bathe them in warm water rather than in regular tap water. It is always advisable to use an anti-septic handwash and soap during a shower.

5.     Make sure they sleep well

Our bodies need just enough time to replenish itself – and since children are more energetic and enthusiastic than most adults, they especially need some time to relax their bodies and minds. While sleeping, the immune system releases cytokines, a type of protein that helps to promote sleep. Besides, cytokines work to regulate the immune system and help ward off infections and inflammations in the body. Therefore, kids must get sufficient sleep, preferably 7-8 hours a day.

Monsoon is a refreshing time and one of the most enjoyable seasons of the year for kids and adults alike. With these immunity-boosting tips, you can make sure that your little one stays in the best of health and gets to appreciate the beauty of nature during the rainy season.