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Step 1
Start with nature's perfect food: breast milk. When a woman breastfeeds, she passes antibodies for diseases through her milk and the infant absorbs them directly via the intestinal wall.
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Step 2
Keep children active with plenty of exercise. Moderate exercise, one to two hours a day, helps children achieve immune-boosting REM sleep and reduces a child's risk of diabetes and high blood pressure. Unstructured active play counts as exercise.
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Step 3
Manage a child's allergies. Allergies work against the immune system by causing inflammation in the body, which dilutes immune defense by mobilizing cells to fight the inflammation. See an allergist if you suspect a child has sensitivities.
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Step 4
Offer your kids plenty of fruits and vegetables. Children who consume the recommended five to eight servings of produce have a reduced risk of cancer later in life and maintain a healthier weight, which decreases the risk of diabetes.
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Step 5
Serve nutrient-dense snacks. Children eat too many processed, sugary foods and refined grains. Sugar depresses immune function. Replace these empty calories with nuts, seeds, whole grains and produce.
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Step 6
Include probiotic dietary sources. You can introduce friendly bacteria into your system, which minimize harmful bacteria through competition. Feed children yogurt or provide a Lactobacillus acidophilus supplement.
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Step 7
Allow a reasonable exposure to dirt and germs. Although you shouldn't sacrifice basic hygiene, a child must be exposed to typical environmental bacteria so his immune system can build its defenses. Forgo antibacterial soap, which encourages the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.
