Despite receiving good care, some children still experience stunted growth, delayed development, or illnesses, which can be a source of great concern for parents. The root cause of this issue is often a lack of awareness regarding the importance of immunity. How exactly does a child’s immunity impact their height? Find out in the following article on Debametulam.com!
Why does a child’s resistance affect height?
Resistance refers to the body’s ability to defend itself against pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Children with strong resistance are less susceptible to illnesses than those with weak resistance. Improving and maintaining resistance is an important factor for children to maintain good health and achieve optimal physical development.
Low resistance makes children vulnerable to bacterial and viral infections, leading to various illnesses such as rhinitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and digestive disorders. Even with proper nutrition and nutrient supplements to promote height growth, if a child has weak resistance, they may not reach their full potential in terms of height and physical development. Timely care and treatment of illnesses is essential to prevent them from becoming more severe.
A child with low resistance or minor illnesses will have their nutrition intake focused on improving their condition and restoring their health, resulting in fewer materials available to build new bones. As a result, it becomes difficult for their height to grow quickly.
Moreover, children who frequently fall ill often require antibiotics to treat their ailments, which may lead to intestinal dysbiosis, digestive disorders, diarrhea, and malabsorption of nutrients. Despite consuming adequate nutrients, children remain vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies that may hinder their growth.
Hence, it is evident that weak resistance poses a significant challenge in increasing height, making the chances of success very low. Therefore, it is crucial to improve a child’s resistance to achieve optimal height. Children with robust immunity, a healthy appetite, and effective nutrient absorption have a better chance of attaining a standard height.
In addition to paying attention to nutritional supplements to boost height, parents must also take measures to improve their children’s immunity, such as following a nutritious diet.
How to improve children’s resistance?
Have a nutritious diet
Having a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods providing essential nutrients can protect children from the risk of diseases. A child’s meal should consist of the four groups of substances including protein, starch, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Each meal should contain meat, fish, green vegetables, and fresh seasonal fruits. Vegetables and fruits provide essential vitamins and minerals for children’s growth and overall health. They also serve as an additional source of fiber, aiding in effective digestion and improving the body’s ability to absorb nutrients.
It is important to limit children’s consumption of greasy foods and avoid using too much sugar and salt when preparing meals, as these can have negative effects on their health. Proper nutritional care is also vital when children are sick, as it helps them recover and improve their resistance. Over-restriction can prolong the recovery time, weaken children, and make them more tired.
Increase foods rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and zinc
To boost the immune system and protect against the risk of disease, it is important to increase consumption of foods rich in essential nutrients like vitamins A, C, zinc, and selenium. Parents should regularly feed their children with foods that contain these nutrients. Vitamin A can be found in foods such as carrots, animal liver, sweet potato, red meat, mango, and bell pepper. Vitamin C is found in guava, orange, kiwi, broccoli, cantaloupe, potato, and papaya. Foods rich in zinc include red meat, shellfish, legumes, whole grains, and eggs. Foods that are rich in selenium and should not be overlooked include mushrooms, beef, cheese, salmon, tuna, and oats.
Fully vaccinated, do not abuse antibiotics
Being fully vaccinated, it is important to avoid antibiotic abuse. Vaccinations for prevention can provide children with antibodies and decrease the risk of contracting common and potentially harmful diseases, such as influenza, pertussis, tetanus, mumps, rubella, measles, and others. As per the guidance of healthcare professionals and specialists, parents should ensure their children receive all necessary vaccinations.
In case of illness, children should be taken to medical facilities for proper monitoring and treatment based on scientific protocols. It is crucial to avoid indiscriminate use of antibiotics for young children, as it can lead to antibiotic resistance and weaken their ability to fight against pathogens. Children are more vulnerable to illnesses and may require longer treatment periods.
Encouraging children to exercise appropriately
Encouraging children to exercise appropriately is crucial. Regular exercise can enhance the resistance of young children. It can aid in better digestion and absorption of nutrients, eliminate harmful toxins, and thereby enhance their immunity.
Parents can encourage children to participate in sports activities based on their age and interests. Sports that promote good height development, such as swimming, football, volleyball, basketball, badminton, jogging, and skipping rope, can be given priority. Exercise sessions should be 30 minutes or more, and the intensity should be appropriate to avoid fatigue and injuries, while still providing the expected benefits.
Get enough sleep
Getting enough sleep is also essential. Children should go to bed early and get sufficient sleep every day to relax and rejuvenate their body after a long day of work, study, and play. Sleep is vital for maintaining good health, improving the immune system, and enhancing resistance.
Parents should establish a consistent sleep schedule for their children, with the same bedtime and wake-up time every day. School-age children require 9-12 hours of sleep daily, with nighttime sleep being the most crucial. Ideally, children should sleep before 10 pm and be in a deep sleep state after 11 pm, allowing the pituitary gland to produce growth hormones to aid their physical development process.
Using products to enhance immunity is another option
Using products to enhance immunity is another option. Many products contain nutrients that can boost resistance and prevent diseases, available in the form of tablets, syrup, nuggets, etc., based on the intended age group. Products that improve immunity in children are usually combined with height and weight gain supplements. Therefore, purchasing height and weight gain products with immunity-boosting ingredients can provide many benefits for children.
Reasons to reduce children’s resistance that mothers need to pay attention to
Mothers need to pay attention to the following reasons that can reduce children’s resistance to diseases:
Environmental pollution: A polluted living environment can lead to a decrease in children’s immunity. When children inhale dust and chemicals, they may suffer from respiratory problems such as asthma or bronchitis. Recent studies show that dirty air can reduce the production of T-lymphocytes, which protect the immune system, and B-lymphocytes, which support humoral immunity, leading to inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system.
Lack of water: Drinking less water can also reduce resistance. Water is essential for the body to function correctly, and it helps flush out toxins from the body, thereby protecting it from the attack of accumulated pathogens. When children do not drink enough water, toxins accumulate in their body, which can weaken their immunity and make them more susceptible to disease.
Prolonged stress: Regular stress can cause a decline in testosterone and estrogen hormone levels, leading to an imbalance that weakens the body’s immunity. When children experience prolonged stress, their body releases cortisol, which can suppress the immune system’s response, making them more susceptible to respiratory diseases.
Vitamin D deficiency: Vitamin D plays an essential role in the immune system. It activates T cells that detect and destroy foreign pathogens. Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of infection and disease, leaving people with weakened immunity susceptible to illnesses. Children who do not get enough sunlight or have a diet lacking in vitamin D are at a higher risk of weakened resistance.
Abuse of antibiotics
Misuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, which weakens the body’s immune system. Although antibiotics have the capability to inhibit and kill bacteria, their overuse can cause bacteria to develop resistance, making them less effective over time. The immune system and physical growth are interdependent, and enhancing the immune system through proper nutrition, regular exercise, and adequate rest can help promote maximum height growth. By maintaining a robust immune system, the risk of diseases can be reduced, and the full potential for height growth can be supported.
