Building stronger immunity in children through nutrition

A strong immune system starts with the food children eat. From the first bite to everyday meals, the right nutrients lay the foundation for lifelong resilience and health. Read on to discover how nutrition, maternal support and key micronutrients work together to build children’s immune resilience from infancy through childhood.

Children are constantly exposed to new germs as they explore, go to school and interact with others, which helps train and strengthen their immune system over time. Adequate micronutrients provide the essential building blocks that support this immune development, helping children build resilience as their immune system learns and adapts. In fact, it has been known for centuries that food can influence health and vulnerability to infection. This is especially true for infants, young children and the elderly.

Nourishment and its impact on children’s immunity

Healthy eating is not just about making good food choices; it’s also about ensuring a balance of different foods that provide the full spectrum of nutrients. Aim for at least five different colours in fruits and vegetables daily, as each colour group offers its own mix of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that support immunity. Keeping in mind, excessive consumption of foods that lack nutrition, such as sugary, processed and packaged foods has been correlated with an increased likelihood of lower and upper respiratory tract infections and other kinds of infection in kids[1]. 

Early immune development begins with maternal nutrition and transfer

Let’s reel back the timeline. Technically speaking, immune support for infants begins during pregnancy, where the mother is involved in the transfer of key nutrients as well as immune cells (antibodies) to her baby through the placenta. Then comes breastfeeding, an essential time of nourishment and bonding for mother and baby that is also deeply immune building. This first food delivers not only antibodies, but also immune factors, beneficial microbes and prebiotics that help seed the gut microbiome. In this way, breast milk becomes a fascinating route of immunological memory, priming, teaching and fine-tuning bub’s developing immune system. As complementary foods are introduced, dietary quality continues this education process, providing the nutrients and microbial exposures needed for immune maturation, tolerance and resilience through early childhood.

The role of micronutrients

Children with higher-quality diets tend to experience fewer infections and recover more quickly[2]. Getting enough key vitamins and minerals helps immune cells work properly, supports healthy immune signalling, and aids the production of antibodies that fight infection. Nutrients such as zinc, vitamin C and D are especially important, as they help guide immune development and keep both the body’s first line of defence and longer-term immune responses functioning effectively.

A mindful approach to nutrition, ensuring a well-rounded and nutrient-rich diet, is instrumental to promoting optimal immune health. It is also wonderful being able to turn to herbs or supplements for family care. Firstly, you can consider Herbs of Gold Children's Multi Care for children from 2 years. A delicious comprehensive multivitamin in a strawberry-vanilla chewable that contains vitamin C to maintain healthy immune system function and support the immune system to fight illness. Our formulas are naturopathically formulated with the utmost care and expertise. When using herbs with kids, it is of essential importance to consider safety both in choice of herb and in dosage. Herbs of Gold Elderberry Echinacea & Olive Leaf is a great-tasting blackcurrant liquid formulated to support healthy immune system function, for children from 2 years.

Always read the label and follow the directions for use.