The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been easy for anyone, but it’s been especially challenging for families and parents. Juggling work, your child’s educational needs, and trying to keep them busy when there are restrictions on where they can safely go is tough. Plus, when your school-aged children can’t participate in their usual stimulating activities, their mental health may suffer—and their physical health, too.
Strong, resilient immune systems are more important now than ever. Luckily, there are a number of ways to naturally improve your kids’ healthy resilience, even during a global pandemic.
Here are 7 easy-to-implement tips on natural immune support for the whole family. Read on to discover how you can help your children and other loved ones thrive, from guidance on how to choose the best immune support supplements to the latest and greatest health-building apps.
Natural immune support tip #1: Double-mask
Masking your family in public places is great, but double-masking in public places has been shown to have even more virus-prevention benefits. You can layer two cloth masks, add a filter to your mask, and also combine a disposable N95 mask with a cloth mask for added protection.
White House COVID-19 advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci says that wearing two masks offers maximal protection because of the multiple disease barriers it provides.
While Fauci was speaking specifically about COVID-19 in this particular instance, this tip also applies to avoiding other infectious diseases, such as the common cold and flu. To ensure your kids stay healthy, employ this preventative measure every winter.
Natural immune support tip #2: Sleep a full 8 hours
Your immune system works best when it’s fully charged. Although COVID-19 has made many morning routines unnecessary, late bedtimes are not doing you or your kids any favors. In fact, recent studies have shown that getting enough quality sleep may help fortify our bodies against Covid-19.
Make sure your family’s bodies have the chance to relax and reset by having adults sleep for eight hours and kids and teens sleep for 10 to 11. That means limited screen time close to bedtime for the kids...and mom and dad! Grab a book instead to help quiet your mind and get better rest.
Even on the weekend, each person should try to go to bed and get up at the same time as they do during the week. Ample sleep will increase your children’s physical health as well as improving their memory, ability to learn, and motor skill development.
Natural immune support tip #3: Choose supplements wisely
A key component of a healthy immune system is a healthy diet. But even if your child’s diet is well-balanced, they may be missing out on some crucial virus-fighting compounds not found in everyday foods.
That’s where immune support supplement formulas can save the day. While they’re especially useful when you’ve got a picky eater on your hands, nutritional supplements and immune support formulas can help ensure that any child gets the vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals they need for natural immune resilience.
But how do you choose an effective supplement? There are a million options, and it’s hard to know which to trust with something as important as your family’s health.
To find the best supplement, focus on quality ingredients in therapeutic concentrations and try to find a supplement with no unnecessary fillers and preservatives. During cold and flu season, scientists have found that there are several botanical compounds that are especially important to look for on that label: European black elderberry extract, olive leaf extract, and mineral-rich structured silver.
Long known as a remedy for easing cold and flu symptoms, black elderberry extract is rich in immune system-boosting antioxidants. Olive leaf extract has been studied for its antiviral qualities, shown to stunt the viral lifecycle. Structured silver is thought by scientists to interfere with the enzymes that allow viruses, bacteria, and fungi to interact with oxygen.
TriGuard Plus, a powerful immune support formula we developed, contains each of these effective botanicals. It’s been recommended by practitioners for over 25 years, so it is trusted within the health community and contains only the cleanest ingredients.
Not only can your kids safely take Triguard orally, but it can also be used to protect them externally—from treating cuts and scrapes to cleaning their toys with a solution of TriGuard and water. It’s good stuff!
Natural immune support tip #4: Bust stress
Simply put, stress is terrible for your immune system. It raises cortisol levels and lowers your body’s natural defenses, making it more likely that you will get sick.
You can reduce your children’s stress by:
- Encouraging them to participate in safe, distanced social activities, such as regular Zoom calls with their friends or gaming in online groups
- Spending five minutes daily in meditation to recharge and be thankful
- Eating together as a family or enjoying board games one night each week
- Getting outside for regular exercise, especially in nature
By inviting your children to adopt healthy habits that improve their natural immune support and maintain their mental health, you’ll set them up for a lifelong flourishing immune system.
Natural immune support tip #5: Go with your gut
Have you heard the good news about probiotics? These live microorganisms, which naturally occur in foods like yogurt, garlic, and kimchi, help to optimize the bacteria in your gut, enhancing your ability to battle diseases and infections.
You may be thinking, “Uh oh, my kids hate foods like garlic and yogurt,” but don’t despair.
Sauerkraut and pickles also contain probiotics, and they’re very kid-friendly. Try adding them to hot dogs or putting them on crackers.
You can also use nutritional supplements to boost gut health if you prefer a daily regimen. This is especially beneficial for kids with allergies, celiac, and other food sensitivities that may impact their immune system and digestion.
Natural immune support tip #6: Prioritize preventative health
Due to the pandemic, many families are skipping regular check-ups with their doctors, but that isn’t wise. By going to the doctor regularly, you can catch potential health problems while they’re still easy to deal with.
Although traveling at this time can be a chore, try to schedule regular wellness checks for yourself and your kids. You’ll be glad that you did!
Natural immune support tip #7: Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!
This tip may seem obvious, but the fact is, many people can get dehydrated without realizing it. To ensure that your immune system functions at its peak, The Harvard School of Public Health recommends that adult women drink 11 cups of water per day, while adult men should aim for 16 cups.
WebMD recommends that children over 13 drink roughly the same amount of water as adults, while kids ages 9-13 need 7 to 8 cups, kids 4-8 need 5 cups, and toddlers need 2 to 4 cups.
This may seem like a tall order, but you can make sure your older kids get enough water by encouraging them to use a water-drinking app, such as Hydro Coach, Drink Water, or WaterMinder.
By gamifying the process of hydration, you’ll make drinking water more fun (and get better results.)
Natural Immune Support: Key takeaways
To recap, there are many tools available for improving your family’s health. For best results, try to incorporate all of them into your wellness arsenal.
However, if your time and energy are limited, the most important natural immune support tools are:
- A trustworthy immune support formula, such as Triguard Plus and a quality probiotic to boost gut health
- Plenty of water and a full eight hours of sleep for adults (and 10-11 hours for kids and teens)
- Stress-ameliorating activities, such as family dinners, regular walks, and online socializing with peers
- Regular preventative health visits with your pediatrician
- A double-mask barrier against infection
By including these habits in your family’s routine, you can rest assured that you’re doing all you can to strengthen their immune systems against threats like Covid-19.