Best natural ways to boost immunities in a 5yo?

[*anj*]

I have a friend whose little boy keeps getting sick. Her other two children are relatively healthy, but the little one gets sick very easily. He's had major ear and eye infections this year, and is now sick again. She has started giving him Vitamin C and kefir in an effort to boost his immune system, but she'd like to try some other things, so that he'll stop catching every thing that comes down the pike.

I told her that I've heard great things about grapefruit seed extract. Also, I find that giving my kids these http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=555
things at the onset of a cold helps them to get better more quickly, so maybe taking it daily would actually be a better idea, eh?

Any other ideas would be very much appreciated! :)

[OnTheBrink]

I'd have him tested for allergies, particularly dairy. Dairy allergies can look like colds, runny noses, etc.

Beyond that, take him off refined sugar and give him nothing refined, pre-packaged, artificially colored or flavored, or instant. Lots of raw or lightly steamed veggies, fresh, whole fruit (not juices), filtered water (we use a Brita filter on the sink). You can also find "green super foods" at health food stores. They come in either capsules or powder. I'd suggest the powder form and put it in a beverage and have him drink it down.

Hope this helps. When I had cancer, I did a lot of research into natural immune boosting and basically, it comes down to this: remove as many toxins and chemicals as possible from the water and food that you consume, as well as refined sugars. Sugar is an immune suppressor and, interestingly, sugar feeds cancer cells (just an fyi).

I would strongly encourage her to find ways of helping him naturally, instead of having him on meds for infections all the time. In the long run, he'll be healthier for it.:)

[Miss Peregrine]

My ND swears by Esberitox (http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=7132)

Too pricey for my family of 6 since you may have to take several a day each. So I have never tried it.

We all take KidGreenz (http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=8316)

It is a blend of green foods. It tastes good, too:)

[Lisa in Jax]

Some things I'd do if my son caught a lot of colds/viruses (your friend should research the appropriateness for herself, of course):

Zinc picolinate
Selenium
Vitamin C
Essential Fatty Acids
Probiotics
garlic -- in foods or in tablets
B complex vitamins

HIH,

Lisa

[Lisa at Home]

Obviously, what they are doing right now is not working for this child. I would give him a whole diet overhaul instead of just throwing supplements on top of what he consumes now. What I mean to say, is that sometimes supplements are just a different kind of band aid.

First, I would eliminate sugar and dairy from his diet, and replace these with fresh, high fiber, nutrient dense foods. Then I would just watch him for a while...a couple of weeks...and then re evaluate how he's doing.

This might be a good place for the mom to start: http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com/

~Lisa

[Jean in Newcastle]

I agree with the above posts about checking for dairy allergy esp. What we do too: I give my kids "Emergen-C" powder in their breakfast juice.

[sdWTMer]

Get the mother to push for an immune panel workup to see if there are any defiencies. My son has/had what is called a "selective IgA deficiency" which meant that he had no ability to fight infections in his sinuses especially. Maybe that is what she needs to have looked into. Perhaps with an allergist or perhpas an ENT doctor.

[Quiver0f10]

Obviously, what they are doing right now is not working for this child. I would give him a whole diet overhaul instead of just throwing supplements on top of what he consumes now. What I mean to say, is that sometimes supplements are just a different kind of band aid.

First, I would eliminate sugar and dairy from his diet, and replace these with fresh, high fiber, nutrient dense foods. Then I would just watch him for a while...a couple of weeks...and then re evaluate how he's doing.

This might be a good place for the mom to start: http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com/

~Lisa

I second this advice.

[Margaret in GA]

My youngest two kids were constantly fighting colds, ear infections and strep throat until we took them off dairy. We rarely get sick anymore and they haven't had an ear infection or sore throat in 2 years.

Margaret