The start of a new school year can be a wonderful and exciting time for kids and parents alike, but spending time in the classroom can also increase the likelihood of germs spreading. Especially as cold and flu season approaches, it can feel like it’s only a matter of time before your children catch the latest bug, but there are steps you can take to prepare and strengthen their immune systems and decrease the likelihood of them getting sick. Below are several natural and kid-approved ways to boost your child’s immunity.*

*Note that some of the products below only list recommended dosing for adults. If you have questions about how to adjust the dosage for your child, reach out to an herbalist. Our Master Herbalist is available from 11AM-1PM Mon-Thurs and can be reached by dialing 801-489-4500 or emailing winnieschwinn@gmail.com

Herbs & Mushrooms

Luckily, there are several supplements to choose from that can sharpen your child’s immune system and prevent illness. In this section, we will discuss a few of these herbs and mushrooms, outlining their benefits and recommending our favorite kid-friendly products.

Elderberries are a great immunity supplement for kids because of their sweet taste and powerful antioxidants and vitamin content. There are several ways to ingest the nutrients of elderberry, some of our favorites being elderberry crystals, elderberry juice concentrate, or the Elderberry Honey Tonic. We also love Elderberry Plus Immune Support and Elderberry Syrup Plus, which combine elderberry with the benefits of other herbs and natural ingredients.

Echinacea is one of the most effective herbs for immune defense due to its ability to boost white blood cell production and stimulate immune cells. The herb is also high in antioxidants and other nutrients that keep your body healthy and ready to fight infection. A few of the best echinacea-based herbal tonics for children include Dr. Christopher’s Kid-E-Mune and Herb Pharm® Kids Orange-Flavored Echinacea. We also recommend Herb Pharm® Kids’ Immune Fortifier, which contains a synergistic blend of echinacea, astragalus, elderberry, reishi mushroom, and cinnamon bark. All three of these child-friendly extracts are made with vegetable glycerin instead of alcohol, giving them a more mild flavor.

Several mushrooms have been found to have properties that stimulate immune cells, including maitake, chaga, reishi, turkey tail, and agarikon. Host Defense’s MycoBotanicals Immune Powder combines these five mushrooms in a blend formulated to your body’s defense against infection. This powder can be mixed into foods such as smoothies, yogurt, or applesauce. Similarly, the Host Defense® Stamets 7 mushroom powder, which contains blazei, cordyceps, reishi, maitake, lion’s mane, chaga and mesima, is a great blend for enhancing immunity and can be easily incorporated into your child’s diet. If your child is able to swallow capsules, you can also try the encapsulated form.

Probiotics

It may surprise some people to learn that in addition to aiding in digestion, probiotics have been found to help increase immunity in a number of ways. Probiotics secrete substances that help maintain the epithelial barrier of your intestinal walls. The epithelial barrier is the anti-microbial barrier that protects your body from outside pathogens, pollutants, and allergens, and is your body's first defense against viral and bacterial infection. Probiotics also help with immunity by adjusting the composition of intestinal microorganisms, reducing the number of harmful bacteria, as well as by regulating inflammation in the body.

For supplementing probiotics in children, we recommend Flora's Children’s Probiotic, which comes in a bottle of 60 capsules, or the Toddler's Probiotic, which comes in powder form and can be mixed into a beverage. For another powdered option, try Host Defense's MycoBotanicals® Microbiome powder, which contains a blend of both shelf-stable probiotics and prebiotic mushrooms.

Vitamin Supplements

Maintaining the proper levels of vitamins and minerals is essential to your body's ability to fight off infection. Vitamin C, D, A, B6, B12, and K are all essential for proper immune function, and minerals such as zinc, folate, copper, iodine, iron, and magnesium also contribute to your body's defense system. Different vitamins and minerals accomplish this in a myriad of ways, including stimulating and facilitating immune cell growth and communication, strengthening the body's epithelial barrier, providing your body with antioxidants, and reducing body inflammation.

One of the best ways to ensure your child receives a balanced vitamin and mineral intake is with a whole-food-based multivitamin supplement. Synthetic vitamin supplements are difficult for the body to absorb and use, so we recommend using vitamin and mineral supplements that contain whole-food ingredients, such as the Liquid Health Children's Complete Multiple or Dr. Christopher's Kid-E-Mins. These formulas contain plant extracts and other natural sources of vitamins and minerals and ensure your child receives the proper nutrients to support body function.

Vitamin C is especially important for immune function, due to its high antioxidant content and ability to assist immune cells. An effective whole-food vitamin C supplement is HealthForce Superfoods' Truly Natural Vitamin C. This bioavailable formula contains vitamin C sourced from camu camu berry, amla berry, and acerola cherry, and is available in both capsules and as a powder.

Conclusion

The start of the academic year provides children with the opportunity to learn, grow, and socialize with their peers, but it also comes with an increased risk of catching a cold or flu, which can interrupt your child's education and even spread to the rest of your family. As a concerned parent, there are many things you can do to prevent your child from getting sick, starting with proper nutrition and supplementation to support their immune system. With a combination of nutritional herbal supplements, microbiome support, and proper vitamin intake, your child's immune system will flourish, and your home can remain a healthy and happy place this school year.