Tips to Keep Away Post-Halloween Sicknesses

Have you ever noticed a cycle or pattern with your child’s sicknesses?  That they come down sick at certain times or after certain events, foods, etc?  It’s a good thing to watch for, as it can help you change this pattern through some intentional prevention.

We have noticed a pattern with our own kids–that when they eat more sugary/junk foods, they tend to catch an extra bug that they otherwise would have avoided.

Did you know that there is a very real, physiological connection between eating more sugar and coming down with colds?  Very true!  I learned this a few years ago, and it has kept me super mindful ever since.

The short version of the sugar danger is this:  Sugar competes with vitamin C for entrance to our T-cells.  These cells are a key part of our immune system and need vitamin C in order to function at their best.

Halloween and the holiday season are prime times for kids getting sick.  Many people may attribute this to weather changes, which can play a role sometimes. However, what if the biggest factor is the increase in sugary foods and treats?

So, here are some helpful tips to keeping your kids feeling their best after Halloween (and during the holidays)!

• Monitor the candy/sweets intake of your kids and limit them to one piece a day.  (We purposely do not allow our kids to keep the candy in their rooms, as I know this would cause the candy to disappear much more quickly.)
• Be intentional about making snack and meal times full of fresh fruits and vegetables.  Perhaps even more than you normally would.
• Get them on a regular, powerful daily multivitamin.  Do the comparisons and be a smart consumer here.  Not all vitamins are created equal.
• And to rule out the cooler-weather factor, keep jackets and hats on when you go outside!

So, there you go.  My two-cents. 😉

*Photo protected under Creative Commons license by anjanettew.