Nutrition is very important for the human body, especially for children. Children are very susceptible to disease, especially during extreme weather changes lately. They need complete nutrition to increase immunity to avoid various diseases.
One of the diseases that often infect children due to weather changes is cough and cold. They have a physique that is more susceptible to various diseases and viral infections, therefore it is necessary to have nutrition in the child’s daily diet.
These are the 4 nutrients that must be given to children and must be included in their daily diet to help improve immunity.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids contain anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce the severity of diseases and infection. This nutrient is also important for improving brain health and supporting cognitive function in children. Some foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids include chia seeds, flax seeds, walnuts, beans, spinach and basil.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C plays an important role in the growth and development of children, in addition it also helps repair tissue, protect cells from permanent damage and increase collagen production so that it helps improve skin health. Vitamin C can increase the production of white blood cells (WBC) which help fight various infections by consuming foods that have a lot of Vitamin C such as oranges, lemons, strawberries, kiwi, broccoli and peppers.
Zinc
This nutrient that helps the development and improves the function of immune cells in children can be found in legumes such as almonds and cashews. In addition, lentils and whole grains can also be consumed to increase zinc intake in the body. Natural killer cells contained in zinc will help manage and fight various bacteria and viruses and not to forget can speed up the healing of wounds in children.
Antioxidants
Foods rich in antioxidants, if consumed regularly, will help protect the body from excessive oxidative stress that negatively impacts the child’s immune system. These foods help reduce swelling and inflammation and also help support full physical health that can fight off all kinds of diseases that come seasonally. Foods that contain antioxidants can be found in spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, potatoes, kiwi, blueberries, and raspberries.