Ten
Tips for Keeping Your Children Healthy This Winter
So often we hear parents on the playground complaining
that their kid has yet another runny nose. Often that statement is followed by,
"I'm sure my kid got it from that other kid in her class that had a
running nose last week..."
While that may be true, the more important question to
contemplate is, why might your kid have been susceptible to the runny nose kid
from last week in the first place? There is an abundance of preventative
measures you can apply to your children's everyday life that will build their
immunity, decrease mucus--where many illnesses and bacteria grow and breed--and
make your life less about nose blowing and trips to the pharmacy, and more
about what your child loves to do, PLAY!
Here are a few practical tips for keeping you and your
family unclogged and feeling vibrant for 2013 and beyond:
1. Eat more wholesome snacks.
Instead of feeding your kids processed prepackaged foods
high in additives, preservatives, sugar, salt, fat and dairy, all of which are
hard for your child to process fully and create excess mucus, try giving them
more whole foods such as fruit, veggies and grains.
While the change in diet will be tough at first, you
will find more success and less whining from your child if you integrate whole
foods slowly into your child's breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, and make
it fun.
2. Be a good example.
Further reinforce eating more wholesomely by being a
good role model. Children love to imitate their parents. If you tell your child
to eat an apple for a snack, but then you have chips, they are not going to be
happy. But if you eat an apple for a snack, and practice what you preach, your
child will be more likely to eat one as well.
The key is teaching good eating habits from the
beginning and exposing your children to the joys of eating well.
3. Eat more basil.
Basil is a delicious, powerful herb that has been used
for centuries to counteract and regulate mucus production. Eating fresh basil
may be too strong for your child, but there are many ways to incorporate it
into your home cooked meals.
Add fresh chopped basil to your tomato sauces, put pesto
on your kids pizza and make a game out of how green it is, or food process it
into soups and stews.
4. Say no to ice.
Seems like a nit picky detail, but it is really key to
building immunity, supporting sound digestion and decreasing mucus buildup. Ice
cold drinks straight from the refrigerator are very jarring for your body to
handle. Our bodies by nature are set at around 98 degrees. When your child
guzzles down a cold drink that is much colder than 98 degrees, their body goes
into shock mode.
Over taxing their bodies with cold beverages makes their
systems work in overdrive, lessening their immune system's chances of fighting
off the germ he or she picked up at school. You have to choose your battles
wisely!
5. Get out and play!
Encouraging your child to go outside and play for at
least 20 minutes after school is a great way to get them fresh air and get
their bodies moving. The more kids sit around playing video games all afternoon,
the less they activate their lymphatic system which is responsible for moving
toxins out of the body. Also, the more they run out excess energy, the better
they will sleep at night!
6. Bundle up.
This may sound like your grandmother talking, but we've
all seen how many kids go out to play under dressed and exposed to the
elements. On colder days insist on wearing hats and mittens to keep your
child's fragile body warm. They may say that they feel hot, but if their sweat
freezes they are more likely to get cold and sick. Again, you must set a good
example and do the same!
7. Stay clean with clean products.
The chemicals that we use to clean our homes and bodies
are full of toxic materials. Traces of these toxins are constantly in contact
with our little ones who spend the majority of their time on the floor playing.
Although keeping dust and germs at bay is a good thing, sometimes the products
we use actually create a different kind of harm to our children.
Opt for more natural cleaning products that are non-toxic.
Over the long run you may be preventing your child from getting worse illnesses
later on in life.
8. Wash your child's hair before dinner.
Many of us are guilty of giving our children baths and
washing their hair right before putting them to bed. Having your child go to
bed with wet hair, especially in the winter, weakens their immunity and often
leaves them stuffy and clogged in the morning. Try to rearrange your bath time
to before dinner, that way there is plenty of time for hair to dry.
9. Never point a fan at your child.
Kids that like a fan on at night while sleeping tend to
be more susceptible to illness than those who do not. Having the wind from a
fan on your child's face blows dust and airborne particles towards them, and
these particles love to stick to mucus.
Wind also causes more production of mucus because their
body is trying to defend itself from particles being blown at it. If your child
insists on a fan, point it away from them and then turn it off once they are
asleep.
10. More sleep.
Getting your child to bed at a reasonable time is very
important. Most kids don't get the nine to 10 hours of sleep that they need to
rejuvenate and restore their systems. Sleep is when we detoxify and recharge
ourselves so our systems can properly perform the jobs they are supposed to do.
Try not to stimulate your children by feeding them too
many sweets or letting them watch TV at night. Instead, give them soothing and
calming foods and activities to help lull them into a long restful sleep.
Medication has its place in maintaining good health for
your child, but the old adage that prevention is the best medicine is more true
than ever. It's important to be aware of the things you can do to help your
family be happy and stay healthy by being proactive. Looking at your daily
habits is a great place to start. Having a more child-like approach will make
being healthy more fun!
