Babies’ immune systems are not as strong as adults’. As babies grow, they strengthen their immune systems by fighting bacteria, viruses and other organisms. Additionally, healthy habits such as breastfeeding, healthy nutrition, adequate sleep, good hygiene practices, and vaccinations can help strengthen babies’ immune systems.
Regular consumption of various nutritious foods rich in vitamins and minerals by babies has a significant effect on strengthening their immune systems.
Breast Milk
Breast milk provides babies with antibodies that help fight infection. The first milk that comes right after birth, called colostrum, is especially rich in antibodies. As breastfeeding continues, the baby receives more antibodies and thus has a stronger resistance to diseases and infections. Other elements in breast milk also directly support the immune system of babies.
Red Bells Pepper
Red bell pepper is one of the foods with the highest vitamin C content. Vitamin C increases the production of white blood cells, which are key in fighting infections, and protects the body from infections by accelerating the formation of antibodies and blocking the activities of viruses.
Broccoli
Broccoli helps regulate the immune response thanks to compounds such as indole-3-carbinol and diindolylmethane it contains. In addition, broccoli is a rich source of vitamins A, C and E, which have important effects on the immune system.
Spinach
In addition to its rich vitamin C content, spinach contains many antioxidants and beta-carotene, which can increase the immune system’s ability to fight infections. Beta-carotene converts to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A plays a critical role in strengthening immune function while supporting growth and development.
Salmon
Salmon is a great source of omega-3, vitamin D and zinc. Omega-3 improves the function of immune cells; vitamin D is involved in the functions of B and T lymphocytes, which play a key role in a strong immunity; zinc is essential for immune cell function and cell signaling.
Eggs
Adequate protein intake is important to support the immune response. In addition to being a source of quality protein, eggs are an important source of vitamins A, D, E and zinc, which are necessary for the proper functioning of the immune system.
Resources:
- American Academy of Pediatrics.Breastfeeding Benefits Your Baby’s Immune System. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Breastfeeding-Benefits-Your-Babys-Immune-System.aspx
- https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/
- Carr, A. C., & Maggini, S. (2017). Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients, 9(11), 1211. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9111211
- Syed, R. U., Moni, S. S., Break, M. K. B., Khojali, W. M. A., Jafar, M., Alshammari, M. D., Abdelsalam, K., Taymour, S., Alreshidi, K. S. M., Elhassan Taha, M. M., & Mohan, S. (2023). Broccoli: A Multi-Faceted Vegetable for Health: An In-Depth Review of Its Nutritional Attributes, Antimicrobial Abilities, and Anti-inflammatory Properties. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland), 12(7), 1157. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12071157
- Shaik-Dasthagirisaheb, Y. B., Varvara, G., Murmura, G., Saggini, A., Caraffa, A., Antinolfi, P., Tete’, S., Tripodi, D., Conti, F., Cianchetti, E., Toniato, E., Rosati, M., Speranza, L., Pantalone, A., Saggini, R., Tei, M., Speziali, A., Conti, P., Theoharides, T. C., & Pandolfi, F. (2013). Role of vitamins D, E and C in immunity and inflammation. Journal of biological regulators and homeostatic agents, 27(2), 291–295.
- Huang, Z., Liu, Y., Qi, G., Brand, D., & Zheng, S. G. (2018). Role of Vitamin A in the Immune System. Journal of clinical medicine, 7(9), 258. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm7090258
- Gutiérrez, S., Svahn, S. L., & Johansson, M. E. (2019). Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Immune Cells. International journal of molecular sciences, 20(20), 5028. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20205028
- Aranow C. (2011). Vitamin D and the immune system. Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research, 59(6), 881–886. https://doi.org/10.2310/JIM.0b013e31821b8755
- Maxfield L, Shukla S, Crane JS. Zinc Deficiency. [Updated 2023 Jun 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493231/
- Puglisi, M. J., & Fernandez, M. L. (2022). The Health Benefits of Egg Protein. Nutrients, 14(14), 2904. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14142904
