Looking for the best immune booster supplements for kids? We all want to keep our kids healthy, and we know that the best way to do this is by providing them with a strong immune system.
In order for your child’s immune system to be at its best, you need to provide it with nutrients.
While healthy whole foods and a balanced diet are a great source of these nutrients, you can’t always provide them with the full spectrum of nutrition they need.
That’s why it is important to give your child supplements with the vitamins and nutrients that they need to boost their immune system.
In this blog post, we will discuss which supplements are best for children and how you can incorporate these into their daily routine in order to keep them healthy.
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What are the best vitamins for children’s immune systems?
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that strengthens our immune system by protecting our cells from harmful free radicals that can suppress the body’s defenses against disease and infection.
It’s a great immune booster for children and can be found in foods like citrus fruits, papaya, strawberries, broccoli, kale, peppers, and more.
Vitamin D
Also known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is essential for the human body to function properly.
It helps regulate hormonal balance and provides a healthy immune system, which is key in preventing illnesses like bronchitis or pneumonia.
Kids need vitamin D all year round, and it’s best to get vitamin D from natural sources like the sun. But if you live in an area where the rainy seasons or winter seasons are long, you may want to consider giving your child a vitamin D supplement.
Zinc
Zinc boosts the immune system by increasing the body’s production of white blood cells, which fight illness and infection.
It can be found in food sources like oysters, red meat, beans, eggs, and pumpkin seeds.
This mineral usually works best when combined with other vitamins and minerals for boosting the immune system, such as iron or selenium.
Probiotics
Approximately 70 percent of our immune system is in our gut.
Studies have shown that giving kids probiotics either through food sources or supplements can help strengthen the immune system and even prevent infections from occurring, such as colds or flu.
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that live in the gut and one of the best immune boosters for our health.
They help keep harmful or unwelcome bacteria from growing and can improve digestion and overall immune health.
One way to get more probiotics in your diet is by eating fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, or tempeh.
Omega fatty acids
Omega fatty acids are great for kids because they help fight inflammation in the body, which is a leading cause of illness.
Good food options include salmon, tuna fish, sardines, mackerel. Plant-based sources include walnuts, sunflower seeds, chia, and flaxseeds.
What to look for in a children’s immune-boosting supplements?
In addition to the vitamins and minerals provided in the supplements, here are some other important criteria to consider when purchasing:
Dose
Make sure you choose the age-appropriate dosage for your child. Children’s supplements are typically formulated for toddlers, primary school ages, and teens.
Follow the product guidelines and speak with your doctor to ensure the product or dosage is appropriate for your children.
You should also always ask about potential drug interactions before taking any supplements and medications together.
Quality Ingredients
Always check the supplement label and choose one that is made of high-quality ingredients.
Avoid supplements if they:
- contain artificial flavors or colors
- have a high sugar content and are sweetened with aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, sorbitol, or mannitol.
If you cannot find adequate information on labels to determine which ingredients are safe, you can always check the manufacturer’s website.
Form
Children’s supplements come in a variety of forms, including chewable tablets, liquids, powders, or gummy bears.
This is helpful for parents as it provides a range of flavors and textures, which makes it more likely for their children to take the supplement.
6 Best Immune Booster Supplements for Kids
1. SmartyPants Kids Complete Vitamin Gummies
These deliciously fruit-flavored gummies are a great option for children who might be picky eaters or dislike swallowing pills. They work great to get my kids out of bed and start the day!
This supplement is non-GMO and free of common allergens like peanuts, shellfish, soy, gluten, and wheat. There are no synthetic colors and artificial sweeteners or flavors.
These gummies are a great deal on Amazon, especially when you order them on a recurring basis with subscribe & save.
2. Zarbee’s Naturals Elderberry Immune Support for Kids
This supplement derives its immune-boosting strength from 100% natural elderberry extract and provides you with vitamins A, C, D, E, and Zinc.
It contains no artificial sweeteners, flavors, or preservatives and is gluten-free for those with gluten sensitivities.
These gummies are vegetarian-friendly as they use fruit pectin to give their gummies a soft, springy texture.
A clinical study found that supplementation with elderberry reduces the duration and severity of colds and flu in air travelers (source).
We always travel with these gummies to prevent ourselves from getting sick during our trips.
3. Manuka Health – MGO 400+ Manuka Honey
A 2014 study found that manuka honey can stop the spread of influenza viruses by causing them to commit suicide (source)
Its MGO rating (Measuring Good Manufacturing Practices) measures health benefits and potency level. The higher the MGO number, the more active Manuka Honey it contains.
I’ve used this honey to effectively stop colds and sore throats many times for my twins, especially during their toddler years.
Give them a spoonful on an empty stomach as soon as you detect a runny nose or sore throat. They love the sweet taste of honey.
It’s also highly effective in reducing and preventing fevers as well.
4. Nordic Naturals Children’s DHA
Nordic Naturals has been a leader in the natural health industry using more sustainable and ethical practices when it comes to extracting their supplements.
This liquid fish oil is made from 100% wild Arctic cod. Purified fish oil is the safest and most reliable source of omega-3 DHA.
DHA is a type of omega fatty acid that has been found to be important for brain function, vision development, immune system health, and mood balance.
This fish oil is non-GMO, gluten & dairy-free, and contains no artificial colors or flavors.
It comes in delicious fruit flavors that my kids love. In fact, they used to take it straight from a medicine dispenser syringe. Nowadays, I sneak it into their yogurts with no issue.
Its Amazon reviews are full of testimonials from parents that have noticed improved focus, cognition, and memory in their children. I too have found that it helps my son focus better during home school and also improve his overall mood as well.
5. Your Super Superfood Powders for Kids
These versatile superfood powder mixes are actually delicious and soooo easy to sneak into kids’ food.
My kids love them and I feel good knowing they’re getting essential nutrients.
There’s a different mix for every day of the week that guarantees your child will get their recommended daily intake of veggies, fruits, protein, and probiotics!
I add the Super Green into their fruit smoothies, Chocolate Lover into their chia puddings, and berry-flavored Forever Beautiful into their yogurts.
The Golden Yellow goes perfectly into their mac and cheese!
All ingredients are naturally dried to preserve all micronutrients and tested by 3rd party labs to ensure high-quality standards.
There are no artificial sweeteners or thickeners – only real immunity-boosting superfoods!
If you are curious and interested in trying out Your Super for yourself, you can get 15% off with the code SPICEGREEN during checkout.
6. Culturelle Kids Purely Probiotics Packets
Culturelle Probiotics contains a patented, clinically tested strain of bacteria called Lactobacillus GG (LGG) that is found in breast milk.
The LGG strain in Culturelle has been shown to build up the natural defenses of your child’s gastrointestinal tract, helping them maintain their health.
It’s easy for your little ones to take. Simply mix the powder into a cool drink or food.
Do not add it to hot food as heat destroys its health benefits!
I add this flavorless powder into my twins’ water bottles and they drink it with no issue.
This probiotic powder is free of gluten, dairy, lactose, milk, added colors, preservatives, yeast, or soy.
There are many different supplements that can help boost a child’s immune system. Each supplement provides its own specialized protection to our immune system, and it is important to find the right one for your child.
I hope this article has helped you make an informed decision about which vitamins are the best immune booster supplements for kids by sharing what I personally give my kids in this blog post!
