Fight Family Sickness with Immunity-Boosting Tricks!

To build a strong immune system in children, begin with a healthy diet of breast milk from birth. As babies grow and begin to eat solid foods, the recipe for a healthy diet becomes similar to that of an adult—balanced. The USDA website www.mypyramid.org generates a personalized food pyramid and dietary tips based on age, gender, and amount of daily exercise. When planning family meals, keep in mind vegetables and fruits contain the vitamins and minerals that help strengthen the immune system, but grains are also important. Plus drinking plenty of water hydrates and cleanses the body.

Dr. Timothy Fior, MD, DHT, a holistic medicine doctor at The Center for Integral Health in Lombardi, Illinois, also suggests eating organic produce. "Organic produce isn't treated with pesticides and herbicides, so it's preferable." He also suggests the obvious, resisting fast and junk foods, as well as foods that are processed or high in saturated fats.