Keeping Your Kids Healthy this Winter

Here are some ways to kid your kids healthy this winter

1) Keep kids warm and cover head and necks, Fresh air good, cold kiddos, bad

 According to Chinese Medicine the back of the neck is place where the elements such as wind, cold, heat can invade and cause colds and flu's that is why it is important to protect kids' heads, ears,  and necks with hats and hooded jackets, and warm chilled kids up quickly with blankets or warm bath

2) Eat plenty of whole foods

 Whole foods, like fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, lean meats, eggs, whole grains are packed with nutrients. and these nutrients are needed to produce a healthy immune system in kids. if can be hard to get kids to eat veggies so try having them color a color wheel and if they eat different colors from the wheel they get a star and then eventually a reward. Also remember kids diets reflect parents diets so if parents don't eat alot of fruits and veggies then your kids probably wont want to either.

3) Plenty of rest

 Winter is the time of rest and restoration, so making sure kids get plenty of sleep and naps at the first sign of a cold/flu is important in preventing it from turning into an infection that may require antibiotics

4) Immune boosting Supplements daily during fall and winter 

 Vitamin D 3- 20 to 25 iu per lb of body wieght- winter is a time when vitamin D levels drop and colds and flu increase, Vitamin D helps keep the immune system strong and fight of colds and flus, I recommend liquid vitamin D drops that can be added to food or just place on the tongue of kids

 Probiotics- daily 2-10billion- ages 0-2 infant probiotics, ages 2 and above - regular probiotics. When probiotics are taking daily kids get sick less often and less severe. they help produce a healthy immune system.

 Omega-3 fatty acids-  100-150mg of DHA a day. Can get liquid or gel caps at local health food store

Multivitamin- Children are growing rapidly and nutrients in our food supply is declining and kids need plenty of vitamins and minerals for proper developement. Find a multivitamin that your kids enjoys and is natural. 

5) Treat early using Natural products, 

Treatment should start at first sign or illness, runny nose, fussiness, tiredness, fever, etc

Eliminate mucous producing foods, ie all dairy products and high sugar foods, sweets until over illness.

Use healthy immune system supplement and in specific immune boosting formulas, such as herbal glycerites from Gaia kids herbs and warming vapor chest rub from Gaia kids herbs

6) Great Resources for every parent

An Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children and Infants by Mary Bove, ND

Homeopathic Medicine for Children and infants by Dana Ullman

7) If kids get frequently ill consider food allergy testing and

elmination

Hidden and Delay food allergies can cause a wide range of symptoms such as frequent cold and illness, asthma, allergies, skin issues,  behavior problems, digestive problems, etc  and need to be investigate to help restore kids health

8) Take kids to doctor if fever over 102 for prolonged period of time, lethargy, trouble breathing, when your intuition tells you something doesn't seem right.