Nutrition For Kids: Immune Support

The immune system is a complex web, or alliance, of systems and organs in the body, not just one system. It is comprised of many systems that work together to protect the body from invaders (like bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other unwanted substances). 

Because of the complexity of the immune system, and the multitude of organs involved, there is not just one thing, or food, that will help improve immunity. It must be a variety of foods that support all of the organs and systems involved in the immune alliance.

• The thymus gland is needed for lymphocytes (or white blood cells, the body's main immune cells)
• The spleen is needed to help with lymph and blood.
• The long skeletal bones are needed for bone marrow and blood.
• The stomach is needed for digestion and the production of HCL which destroys pathogens that come into the body via food.
• The intestinal flora is needed for digestion to destroy pathogens in the intestines as well as aid in the production of B12.
• The liver is needed for detoxification and enzyme production. 
• The brain is needed to signal an immune response is needed. 

As you can see, there are a lot of organs involved in the immune system's response. That means, in order to support the immune system, it's necessary to support ALL of the organs above.  (and also remove the things that STRESS the organs above, and sugar is the #1 stressor!)

What I personally use, and find to be the best "multivitamin" for the immune system is called Immuplex from Standard Process. (You can read the full nutrition label at that link). It contains real food to help support each of the systems above including liver, spleen, bone, and thymus. (I don't know about you, but I'm probably not going to be cooking spleen, bone, or thymus anytime soon! Liver, I tend to make often). 

Because there is iron in the Immuplex, you do want to keep it out of reach from  children, and reduce the dosage based on your child's age/weight. (ask me if you have questions about how to do that). 

But at first sign of any sickness in myself or my child, we take immuplex as a buffer. It may or may not prevent us from getting sick, but it will help to support our entire immune alliance which then gives us a better fighting chance at recovering quickly, or even preventing the sickness totally.

I keep this one in my "health cabinet" at all times! 

Want to try Immuplex for yourself? Contact me and we can see if it's something that would help you and your family. You can reach me at [email protected].

Previous Kids Nutrition Series Topics:

Check out all of the previous Kids Nutrition Topics/blog posts found here in the Kids Nutrition page. (immune support, brain support, congestion support, sore throat support, skin support, multivitamin support, and more!)