A
sick child is every parent’s night mare.
I
am a parent and I know how often a little running nose, a thermometer that has
shown a reading above normal or an upset tummy has brought my beautiful world
crumbling down.
In
the past seven years – ever since I graduated into a Mom – I have learnt, that the
one thing I want most in this world is that my daughter should be healthy and
happy. Because, when she is sick - even if it is a minor illness that I know
will pass in a day or two – my life turns into a chaotic mess.
And
this realization has taught me to value Immunity.
Immunity
is an almost magical gift that nature has bestowed upon us. While we are healthy we don’t really think
about all the cells tissues and substances in our body that are fighting
against germs 24x7 to keep us safe from infections and diseases. But when you
think about the hundreds of millions of germs surrounding us all the time –
waiting to attack, and realize how rarely you actually get sick, it is truly
amazing and awe inspiring.
My
top priority then is - to boost my child’s immunity, so that she is sick less
often and my life is not thrown out of gear frequently.
I
now understand that there are several things that I can do to create an
environment where my child’s immune system can function at its optimal best.
I
firmly believe that if every parent commits themselves to boosting their own children’s
immunity – we will have a more ‘Immune India’
Immunity in children
When
a baby is born it already has some immunity in place. Immune substances called
antibodies are passed down by the mother to her baby while it is still in the
womb to ensure that it is protected from germs when it comes out into the world.
This
baseline immunity is further strengthened by more antibodies that are present
in breast milk.
These
antibodies protect babies until they are about a year old but after that they
start waning.
The
child’s body then slowly works towards building its own immunity which takes a
considerable amount of time. It is
during this time when the immune system is still developing, that children fall
sick again and again.
How can we bestow our
children with better immunity?
It
is impossible to speed up the development of a child’s immune system, but it is
possible to help it to function at its best and that is what every parent
should hope to achieve.
Ways to boost a child’s
immunity –
1. Give
your child’s immunity a head start by breast feeding
When
a child is breastfed for at least six months he becomes less prone to
infections and allergies later in life. Colostrum which is the thick golden
milk that is produced for the first four or five days after birth, is extremely
rich in antibodies and every baby must get this. Breastfeeding for six months
ensures that the baby’s immature gut is safe from germs for that period and
that his immunity is maintained at a high level until he is able to produce his
own immune cells and antibodies.
Creating
environments that are conducive to breastfeeding will ensure a much more ‘Immune
India’
2. Tip
the balance in your child’s favour by providing a balanced diet
A
diet that provides all the nutrients in optimal amounts is vital to keep the
immune system functioning at its best. Minerals like zinc and substances like
anti oxidants are essential to keep the immune system going. Complex
carbohydrates, lean proteins, pulses, unsaturated fats, fresh fruits, green
leafy vegetables, nuts and pro-biotics such as curd must be part of your child’s
diet.
If families forgo the comforts of packaged
processed foods and champion the cause of eating fresh food cooked we can have
a more ‘Immune India’.
3. Keep
every cell in the body happy with hydration
Every cell in the body requires
water to function and immune cells are no exception. Water is also needed to
wash away accumulated toxins and wastes which do not allow the body to function
appropriately and cause a drop in immunity. Children must learn to love
drinking water in its colourless odourless and tasteless form.
Rising above the flood of sweetened
aerated beverages that are drowning us is the way to a more ‘Immune India’.
4. Clean
up the environment – let the immune system breathe
The
cells of the immune system need clean and smoke free air to breathe in. Parents
are now acutely aware of the pollutants in the air that their children breathe
and in their attempt to minimize exposure to this contaminated air, they lock
their children away in air conditioned atmospheres. Air conditioned
environments themselves however are health hazards due to air pollution of a
different kind. Fresh air in natural surroundings is the only way to keep the
immune system healthy.
Recognizing that flipping a switch to create a
clean environment is doing more harm than good, actively working towards
creating safe outdoor play areas for children and attempting to reduce our
carbon footprint is the way to a more ‘Immune India’.
Above all endeavouring to reduce children’s exposure
to the hazards of passive smoking is the way to a more ‘Immune India’. We need
to say ‘No’ to smoking.
5. Catapult
immunity to its pinnacle with physical exercise
The
immune system loves regular physical exercise. Exercise increases the number of
immune cells and enhances their function. This results in fewer sick spells.
Children need all the physical exercise they can get.
Getting
ourselves and our children off the couch and out in the open for a little while
every day for some physical exercise can go a long way in creating a more ‘Immune
India’.
6. Help
immunity win by dealing stress a killer punch
Children
today are stressed about their school work, their extracurricular activities,
their looks, their clothes and their possessions and parents constantly add their
own stress to all this stress. Stress suppresses the immune system. The fight
or flight mechanism triggered by stress leads to high cortisol levels in the
blood which suppresses the production of immune cells like T and B cells.
Actively
working towards reducing stress in the lives of children and helping them to
combat and overcome existing stress is sure to make a more ‘Immune India’
7. Strengthen
immunity – do not sanitize
In
their bid to keep away illness it is not uncommon for parents to sanitize the
environment that their children live in. However such extreme cleansing is
detrimental to a child’s developing immunity. Some exposure to pathogens is
essential because minor pathogens that are present all around us serve as the
teachers that teach the immune system about the big bad world of pathogens and
equip it to combat disease. Overuse of disinfectants in households in the form
of floor cleaners or in bathing soaps must be avoided for better immunity.
Embracing
cleanliness without an obsession for sterility can create a more ‘Immune India’
8. Suffer
through minor illnesses with a smile – do not misuse drugs
For
parents, it is extremely distressing to have a sick child on their hands and
resorting to drugs and antibiotics for every little thing is commonplace,
especially since most drugs are available over the counter. However, a minor
sick spell is like a coaching class for the immune system. When antibiotics are
used to cut short the sick spell, it leaves the immune system with half baked
knowledge on the basis of which it is unable to combat the same pathogen when
it attacks a second time. This results in the child falling prey to the same
germ again in a few days.
Resisting
the temptation to misuse or overuse drugs can lead to the immune system graduating with honours and lead to a more ‘Immune
India’ .
9. Wash
your hands – give immunity a hand
Hand
washing has proved to be the most effective way of preventing illness. It is
important to teach children the importance of hand washing and tutor them to
follow the right technique to wash hands.
When
hands are washed frequently, disease causing organisms will have fewer places
to hide in and we will have a more ‘Immune India’
10. Sleep
well to wake up your immune system
Sleep
is an essential prerequisite to an optimally functioning body and the immune
system is no exception. Sleep deprivation leads to a decrease in production
immune cells and immune substances in the body and makes the body more prone to
infections. Unfortunately in our media bombarded world, a large number of
children are sleep deprived and therefore not as immune competent as they could
be.
Ensuring
that children get their requisite sleep is a very important step towards
boosting immunity and creating a more ‘Immune India’.
11. Give
immunity that magical jab – Vaccinate
Several
deadly diseases are now preventable by vaccines. Unfortunately the current lot
of parents are not ones who have experienced the scourge of these deadly
diseases and a certain amount of callousness has seeped into the vaccination
schedules of many children. Every child must be vaccinated according to the
prescribed schedule.
Age
appropriate vaccination is the way to create a more ‘Immune India’.
We
can create a more immune India. It is in our hands. Let us do it.
Let us join hands to ensure that the germs do
not have the last laugh.
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