Colds and the flu are common facts of life, but that doesn’t mean you’ll do nothing to keep your kids away from them. But instead of waging an endless war using medicines and remedies, it’s way better and smarter to prepare your children from within, i.e., to build up and boost their natural immune system. Here are a few easy but effective tips for you.

Feeding More Fruits and Veggies

It’s the holy grail of health! Nothing can work better to boost the immune system than a healthy diet packed with multiple servings of seasonal fruits and veggies. Bright stuff like oranges, strawberries, green beans, and carrots are rich in carotenoids. According to dietitians and nutritionists, this particular phytonutrient improves the production of virus-blocking antibodies named interferon and infection-fighting white blood cells.

Boosting Sleep Time

Sleep deprivation can make both adults and children more susceptible to illness by affecting the body’s natural immune system. According to pediatric immunologists, children in daycare are generally at more risk as all of the scheduled activities can make it difficult for them to take a needed nap. In that case, double-check the nap policy of your daycare, or else, put your children to bed earlier so that they can get plenty of rest.

Guarding Against Germs

Though reducing germs doesn’t technically boost immunity, it’s a great way to decrease stress on the immune system, especially your child’s. The most effective and simplest strategy to keep germs at bay is washing hands often with soap. Pay particular attention to this mundane hygiene habit, especially before and after every meal and after playing outside. Changing your family’s toothbrushes when your kid is sick is also a handy trick.

Avoiding Unnecessary Antibiotics

It may seem productive, but jumping on antibiotics whenever your kid has a sore throat, the flu, or a cold, doesn’t help in the majority of cases. That’s because most childhood illnesses are caused by viruses, while antibiotics treat illnesses caused by bacteria only. Many pediatricians have to prescribe antibiotics reluctantly due to pressure from the parents. But this habit can affect your child’s immune system by creating antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Exercising

Exercise increases the number of natural killer cells in adults and children alike. They say the family works out together and sticks around together. So, you have to become a good role model to get your children into a lifelong fitness habit. According to clinical psychologists, opting for fun family activities like playing outdoor sports, jogging, bike-riding, etc. is far better than just constantly urging your kids to go outside and play.

Life can be overwhelming and stressful at times. In fact, as soon as most people step into adulthood, they slowly start to realize the challenges of being alive. However, hardship, bills, expectations, and personal ambition shouldn’t be the reason to not fully enjoy the experience of life.

Here are three ways to make life less stressful and more enjoyable.

1. Being Serious All the Time Isn’t Fun

People who take life too seriously, aren’t that fun to be around. They tend to be uptight, stressed, and always overthink things, which can seriously ruin the mood during a party or friendly gathering. Having a lighter look on life can be an amazing stress reliever and most importantly, it allows people to try new things and create memorable experiences.

2. Everyone Has Problems in Their Life

Having worries and obligations isn’t the problem, it’s the constant thinking about them that is the problem. Everyone in the world has “stuff” to deal with but not every person allows these issues to take hold of them. Negative thinking has never helped anyone. In fact, it has made things worse. Becoming aware of these facts enables people to develop the ability to put their worries aside for a while and just enjoy the scenery. Problems and responsibilities shouldn’t be allowed to kill the happiness of dancing, singing, laughing, etc.

3. Push Boundaries

Many men and women have the unhealthy habit of limiting themselves by raising boundaries, which they deem impossible to overcome. Sometimes these limitations are because of personal doubts while in other cases they are due to society’s expectations. The truth, however, is that no one who has changed the world has ever given up on their dreams. Pushing boundaries, or at least trying, provides people with purpose, which leads to living a productive life.

No need to be serious all the time because people can end up like Larry Gopnik, a Midwestern professor in Joel and Ethan Coen’s 2009 black comedy-drama film, “A Serious Man.” Sometimes, letting go is the best way to enjoy the journey!