Ask The Expert is a weekly column on Littlestomaks.com. The idea is to have a reader-submitted question answered by a nutrition expert or a pediatrician. Feel free to submit your question in the comments section below.

This week Registered dietitian Jill Weisenberger offers ideas for foods that can help your child build a stronger immune system.

Jill Weisenberger, MS, RD, CDE  Education: M.S. Food Science & Human Nutrition, University of Florida Degree in Communications, University of Florida Nutrition consultant, writer, speaker, educator Expertise in diabetes nutrition Writer for Eating Well, Diabetic Living, Her Sports and Fitness magazines Twitter: @nutritionjill Website: All That’s Nutrition LinkedIn Profile Contact via email: jill@allthatsnutrition.com

Question: What kinds of foods will keep my child’s immune system as healthy as possible?

Answer:

Winter colds and flu are making the rounds. In some households, it seems that just as one family member is well, another gets sick. A well-running immune system can mount a powerful attack against viruses and other invaders, so paying attention to diet is especially important now. An apple a day is a good start to keeping the doctor away, but it’s the total diet – not any individual food or supplement – that stokes the immune system and keeps it humming.

The types of foods your child needs to fend off colds and illnesses are the same ones you need. Don’t fall for the hype of immune-boosting supplements and fortified foods. Simply eat a balanced diet. For most, that means a stronger emphasis on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Try to eat a whole grain and at least one fruit or vegetable at every meal. Here are a few to try, but again a balanced diet is required – not any specific food.

Beans: Baked beans, kidney beans and others are a powerhouse of nutrients including zinc which may reduce some upper respiratory infections. Smash up some white beans to thicken soups and stews. No one will ever know they’re there. Add red or black beans to salads and pasta.

Oats: another good source of zinc and a perfect breakfast food. Instead of using breadcrumbs, you can also add oats to meatballs and meatloaf.

Bell peppers, broccoli, citrus, kiwis and berries: These are all good sources of vitamin C. Research isn’t clear that extra vitamin C helps treat or prevent colds, but vitamin C-rich foods are packed with other antioxidants and nutrients, so it’s a good idea to include them daily. Clementines are especially nice for children because they are small, seedless, easy-to-peel, delicious and not as messy as other citrus fruits.

Mushrooms: Researchers at Tufts University suspect that the simple white button mushroom may enhance immune function by increasing the production of antiviral compounds. If your kids aren’t used to eating mushrooms, introduce them with foods they already like such as pastas and casseroles.

Finally, don’t forget that frequent hand washing and other good hygiene habits are also necessary to protect your health and your family’s health. Oh and get outside in the sunshine too.

©2011 Littlestomaks.com. All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer – Information provided in Ask The Expert column on Littlestomaks.com is intended to give you general guidance on a question related to toddler nutrition. It is not meant to be treated as medical advice. You are welcome to contact this expert for a detailed consultation on your specific situation to determine what actions, if any, you should take regarding nutrition and health of your toddlers. We do not recommend you to take any action based solely on the information presented in this column. Experts have agreed to provide their professional opinion on toddler nutrition related questions on a voluntary basis and no compensation is offered to them by Littlestomaks.com.

Ask The Expert is a weekly column on Littlestomaks.com. The idea is to have a reader-submitted question answered by a nutrition expert or a pediatrician. Feel free to submit your question in the comments section below.

This week, Registered Dietitian Liz Marr explains why you need to exercise caution when considering a multivitamin for your child.

Question: How important is taking daily multivitamins and when should kids start?

Answer:

While parents may worry that their toddlers are not taking in adequate nutrients, normal, healthy children, even picky eaters, typically don’t need multivitamin supplements. According to the American Dietetic Association, the best strategy for meeting nutritional needs, for children and adults alike, is eating a wide selection of nutritious foods. Studies suggest that positive health outcomes are related more to overall dietary patterns rather than intakes of individual nutrients. Foods contain an array of health-promoting substances beyond vitamins and minerals, for example flavonoids.

Parents believe supplements provide children nutrients that may be lacking in their diets, according to research. However, by introducing supplements at an early age, parents may be unwittingly sending the message to children that supplements are a substitute for healthful eating patterns.

No solid evidence exists that children’s health is improved by multivitamin supplements. Nonetheless, about one third of children in the United States take multivitamin supplements. However, that figure is down from the 1970s. Compared to infants and adolescents, children ages 4-6 are most likely to take supplements. Interestingly, national surveys suggest that supplements may be taken by those who have healthful diets and lifestyles more often than those at a greater risk for vitamin and mineral inadequacies.

Because many foods that are consumed by children are already fortified with various vitamins and minerals, children are probably consuming more nutrients than parents might think. For example, many foods common in children’s diets are typically fortified, including breakfast cereals, breads, dairy products and juices.

One nutrient for which some infants and children may require supplementation is vitamin D. Because of the role of vitamin D in healthy bone formation, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 400 IU of supplemental vitamin D for the following:

• Breastfed infants
• Non-breastfed infants consuming less than one quart of vitamin D-fortified formula
• Children consuming less than one quart of vitamin D-fortified milk
• Adolescents with intakes less than 400 IU per day.

So, if parents choose to give children multivitamins, they should make sure the supplement contains vitamin D.

A particular caution with keeping multivitamins (children’s or adult’s) in the house with young kids, is risk of overdoses. Of particular concern with multivitamins is iron, an overdose of which can be fatal. Many children’s vitamins are designed for kid appeal, available in a variety of colors, flavors and branded characters. And children may view them as candy. If parents choose to keep multivitamins in the house, the supplements should well out of reach of young children.

©2010 Littlestomaks.com. All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer – Information provided in Ask The Expert column on Littlestomaks.com is intended to give you general guidance on a question related to toddler nutrition. It is not meant to be treated as medical advice. You are welcome to contact this expert for a detailed consultation on your specific situation to determine what actions, if any, you should take regarding nutrition and health of your toddlers. We do not recommend you to take any action based solely on the information presented in this column. Experts have agreed to provide their professional opinion on toddler nutrition related questions on a voluntary basis and no compensation is offered to them by Littlestomaks.com.

Ask The Expert is a weekly column on Littlestomaks.com. The idea is to have a reader-submitted question answered by a nutrition expert or a pediatrician. Feel free to submit your question in the comments section below.

This week, Dr. Douglas Husbands provides an update on nutritional supplements with practical application for the health of your children.

Question: What is the latest development in nutritional supplements for children?

Answer:

Hello everyone!  I’m delighted for my second opportunity to guest post here.  Since I just recently came back from the 2009 International and American Associations of Clinical Nutritionists Scientific Symposium, I’d like to share some information on nutrition supplements with practical application for the health of your children.

Vitamin D3

• Adequate to optimal levels of serum vitamin D levels in infants and children (between 30 to 60 ng/ml) are associated with decreased asthma and allergies, better brain development and healthy bone development.
• When visiting your pediatrician or Functional Medicine doctor, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels should be measured.
• It is estimated that between 50,000 to 70,000 deaths per year from various causes could be prevented by having adequate blood vitamin D levels.
• Many infants and children could benefit from supplementing with 1000 to 2000 IU of vitamin D daily, particularly during the winter months, if they cannot tolerate fatty fish, if they are darker skinned, or if their serum vitamin D levels are below 30 ng/ml.

Probiotics

• Probiotics help decrease abnormal intestinal permeability, or “leaky gut”.
• The appendix’s function is now known.  It is a repository for beneficial bacteria (probiotics) for the GI tract.  Supplemental probiotics help replenish the repository after antibiotic use or from use of corticosteroid creams or inhalers.
• Abnormal intestinal permeability allows gut-derived antigen exposure to the bloodstream; thereby distant, seemingly unassociated autoimmune symptoms can arise from a “leaky gut”.
• Due to immature GI tract development, it is best that infants are breastfed for at least his/her first 12 months.
• Many pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers would do well to supplement with the probiotic strain Lactobacillus GG (aka Lactobacillus rhamnosus) at a dose of 4 billion/day and Vitamin D3 at a dose of 4000 IU/day for potentially decreasing likelihood of asthma, eczema, allergies, type 1 diabetes, and autoimmune disorders in their babies.

Curcumin

• Curcumin, a component of turmeric, has powerful anti-inflammatory properties to inhibit inflammatory mediators, exhibiting therapeutic potential in asthma (and other inflammatory disorders)

©2009 Littlestomaks.com. All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer – Information provided in Ask The Expert column on Littlestomaks.com is intended to give you general guidance on a question related to toddler nutrition. It is not meant to be treated as medical advice. You are welcome to contact this expert for a detailed consultation on your specific situation to determine what actions, if any, you should take regarding nutrition and health of your toddlers. We do not recommend you to take any action based solely on the information presented in this column. Experts have agreed to provide their professional opinion on toddler nutrition related questions on a voluntary basis and no compensation is offered to them by Littlestomaks.com.