Why are adolescents vaccinated against covid-19?
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(CNN) -
As children return to school each year, parents are generally primed for their children's immune systems to deal with a few weeks of colds and other illnesses.
Add this year to that list: a deadly pandemic, with some symptoms that can mimic other diseases.
Now that children are going to school, Covid-19 cases are on the rise and children under the age of 12 cannot get vaccinated against the virus.
Having a well-functioning immune system supported by lifestyle habits like eating nutritious foods, exercising, and sleeping could help lower your risk of covid-19, according to guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. .UU. (CDC).
At the same time, no single food will totally prevent someone from contracting the coronavirus or curing the disease, the World Health Organization has said.
"We know that people (who are) immunosuppressed are more likely to contract covid and become seriously ill," said Dr. Leana Wen, CNN medical analyst, emergency physician and visiting professor of health policy and management at the School of Health. Public Health from the Milken Institute of George Washington University. "We don't know to what extent improving your immunity would prevent COVID in any way. That might make common sense, but we don't have the data to say that's the case. However, from a common sense perspective, we should do our best. for improving health anyway. "
Because the immune system involves multiple functions that take place throughout the body, supporting it requires some building blocks, said Julie Stefanski, a registered dietitian and nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Here are seven ways you can support your kids' immune systems with hygiene, food, rest, and more.
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1. Encourage personal hygiene
Protecting your child from illness begins with doing everything you can to prevent exposure to infectious agents in the first place, said Dr. Maya Adam, clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at Stanford University in California.
"That really involves keeping up with hygiene practices," Adam said.
"Hand washing is huge. It is the first thing we can teach our children, to wash their hands frequently, as much as their environment allows. And as recommended in their location, follow the guidelines on using a mask and social distancing. Try and be sensible about not being in large groups, especially if there are potential sources of infection. "
Encourage hand washing when your kids come home from school or when they're about to eat, said Julia Zumpano, a licensed and registered dietitian with the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
Unless they shower at night, have them wash their hands and face before bed as well, he added.
2. Follow the vaccination schedules
Currently, children under the age of 12 cannot be vaccinated against the coronavirus, but following schedules for other vaccines is critical to the long-term health of all children, Adam said.
Ask your child's pediatrician what vaccinations are necessary at this stage in his life, Zumpano recommended.
"(I'm) encouraging parents to trust the fact that the reason we don't have polio, for example, is because there is a vaccine for that," Adam said.
If your children are eligible, vaccinating them against the coronavirus is key both to keeping them healthy and to ending this pandemic.
"By the time the (covid-19) vaccine is available and approved for children under 12, my 11-year-old will be one of the first, I hope, to receive it, because I believe that vaccines are part of our practice. health, "Adam added.
"It's like brushing and flossing your teeth at night. It's like getting enough sleep and eating a balanced diet."
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3. Feed them a balanced diet
When it comes to using foods to support immune function, one method that all of these experts recommend is balanced nutrition.
"Many parents just cringe when they hear that they must feed their children 'rainbow colors,' because there is so much confusion about 'what does that really mean? What should I do?'" Said Adam, who is also an author. from "Food Love Family: A Practical Guide to Child Nutrition." "If you do something for your children in terms of nutrition," he added, increase the variety of fruits and vegetables as much as your budget allows.
Zinc and vitamins B, C and A are some other micronutrients that help immune cells fight infection, said Dr. Mark Corkins, chair of the nutrition committee for the American Academy of Pediatrics. Foods rich in zinc include oysters, red meat, poultry, nuts, and shellfish. Foods such as salmon, organ meats, green leafy vegetables, and dairy products provide vitamin A. All food groups contain different levels of vitamin B. And citrus fruits, broccoli, strawberries, and tomatoes are rich in vitamin C.
Make healthier food options visible and accessible to kids by having fruit already peeled and on the counter to "satisfy their hunger" during snacks, Adam said.
At dinner, make sure there is at least one vegetable present or offered, Stefanski said.
4. Promotes intestinal health
The microbiome in our gastrointestinal tract helps regulate how our immune system works, said Corkins, who is also St. Jude's chief of excellence in pediatric gastroenterology and a professor at the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences.
Foods with probiotics that support the microbiome include yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut and sourdough bread, Adam said.
Stefanski recommended eating whole foods as often as possible, as "gut bacteria feed on certain fibers in the diet."
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5. Prioritize sleep
Sleep is when bodies regenerate, so helping your kids maintain a healthy sleep routine is also essential for immune function, Zumpano said.
Young children can relax by reading to them or taking them for a slow walk outside before bed, Adam suggested.
Older children can enjoy relaxing by listening to stories or audios from meditation apps.
"Start that routine even an hour before they're supposed to be sleeping, so it helps them get through that phase better," he added.
"I don't think our children have ever heard the end of those stories because they are already asleep when they are over."
Also, a dark, cool room is more conducive to getting enough sleep, Stefanski said.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has details on how much sleep children need by age.
6. Help them reduce stress
Since research has shown that chronic stress is a depressant for the immune system, monitoring your child's mental health through quality time, discussions during activities, and mental health professionals is also important in supporting immunity. Adam said.
"I know this sounds impossible," Adam said, but "if you are going to eat, try to time it so that you can eat with your children and talk to them. There has been a lot of research done on meal times and how beneficial that is for the child. children's mental health, because it gives them a regular forum where they can bring things up ... It is much less effective to turn to a child and say, 'Is there something bothering you?' "
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7. Take them outdoors
Since exercise releases mood-enhancing chemicals, subsequent stress reduction can support immune strength, Zumpano said.
"Young children should primarily play, but having them outside as much as possible, running around, playing whatever they like shouldn't feel like punishment, but rather something they can safely participate in," Adam said.
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