With 'back to school' well under way and the changes in temperatures, it is time to point out that this means that cold and flu season could also be imminent.

WHY OCTOBER BRINGS BACK BUGS

Children have settled back into schools, enclosed spaces and - lets face it - largely unwashed hands, germs have the perfect breading ground. Immune systems are challenged, and slowly but surely the infections start. Most commonly tummy bugs, followed by colds and coughs.
Our little darlings then bring these newfound bugs back into our homes and share them with us – their parents – as well as with their siblings and friends. We in turn take them into our air-conditioned offices, which are an absolutely perfect environment for transmission.

SO, WHAT CAN WE DO?

Keep your children as healthy as possible! We can try and educate them about the importance of washing their hands, but this may not always be remembered.
We can ensure we provide a diet which is as healthy as possible, to try and provide all the nutrients their immune system needs to work properly, but of course, this may not always be possible. Additionally, fussy eaters will often be at risk of nutritional deficiencies. This is where supplements can come in helpful, to fill in some of those gaps and support a healthy immune response.

SUPPORTING SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin C, Zinc and Vitamin D are all required for healthy functioning of the immune system. It has been noted that many of our children are particularly low in vitamin D, as they spend so much time indoors especially during the summer months and then when temperatures begin to cool, they need to be covered in sunscreen before they go out in the sunshine. A supplement which provides some or even all these nutrients would be helpful in trying to keep that immune system working well – and those colds away. Keep an eye out for the ingredients- you don’t want one with added artificial flavors and sugar. Good bacteria can also come into play here, the health of the immune system does also rely, in part, on the health of our internal microbiome. Topping up their good bacteria could also help to keep some of those tummy bugs at bay.

AWARD WINNING MINI DROPS

Natures Aid award winning mini drops range of supplements are the ideal choice for your child. They are sugar free, without artificial colour and preservatives. Each one comes with its own dropper making it easy to use and don’t worry, kids love the taste. Simply mix the dosage quantity in milk, juice, cereal, food or give it to your child directly. These high quality products are manufactured in the UK to industry recognised Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standard.

AND FOR THE ADULTS?

We cannot always prevent our children from getting ill – so we also need to think about looking after our own immune systems, to try and keep ourselves fighting fit. As well as those same nutrients – vitamin D, vitamin C and zinc, an ingredient called Beta Glucans has been shown to help cut down the risk of infections by a quarter, so could be worth looking out for.
 
Written by Jenny Logan DNMed. Jenny is a nutritional therapist who has worked with clients in health food stores and private clinics for over 20 years.

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