How to Stay Healthy When Returning to School

Summer vacation is a time of rest for schoolchildren, when they spend a lot of time outdoors in the fresh air. During the summer months, children are active, their immune systems are in good condition, and frequent exposure to sunlight provides them with vitamin D, which strengthens immunity. Additionally, viruses do not spread as easily in warm weather as they do in cold, so parents do not have to deal with frequent illnesses in the summer.

Returning to school brings various challenges, and it can be demanding for children both psychologically and physically. After the relaxed summer routine, they must readjust to early school mornings and cope with the stress associated with learning and social reintegration. This often happens in colder weather, which is favorable for the spread of viruses. After all, it is the flu season, which affects not only children but also adults.

During the back-to-school period, it is important to pay extra attention to your children's health and help prevent illnesses.

How can you boost your children's immunity?

To help children avoid illness when returning to school, it is important to focus on strengthening their immune systems. Here are some tips:

• Enough physical activity and sleep

Regular outdoor activity and sufficient sleep are key to maintaining a strong immune system. Physical activity promotes blood circulation, allowing immune cells to fight infections more effectively.

• Hygiene and handwashing

Proper handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of viruses. Teach children to wash their hands properly before meals, after using the toilet, and after coming home.

• Healthy diet

A diet rich in fiber helps maintain a balanced gut microbiome, which is essential for a strong immune system.

• Taking care of the microbiome

Up to 80% of immune cells are located in the gut, so it is extremely important to maintain gut microbiome health. The microbiome not only trains immune cells but also helps them distinguish between harmful pathogens and harmless substances. When gut balance is disrupted, unnecessary immune responses can occur, weakening the body and making it more susceptible to infections.

The microbiome and the immune system

Immunity can be divided into innate and acquired. Children are born with innate immunity, which provides basic protection against infections. Acquired immunity develops gradually as the body encounters various pathogens.

Although the microbiome is not a direct part of either system, it plays a crucial supportive and regulatory role in their function. A healthy microbiome helps the immune system respond appropriately to external threats.

Studies show that disruption of gut balance, or dysbiosis, is present in people with many inflammatory and chronic conditions, including Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), obesity, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and some types of cancer. Furthermore, there is evidence linking a healthy microbiome to resistance against respiratory illnesses.

Support your schoolchildren’s immunity with probiotics

You can also support children’s immunity with targeted probiotics, which help maintain a healthy microbiome. iMunobiom+® from iProbio helps increase resistance to infections, allowing children to better handle the return to school without getting sick.

Targeted iMunobiom+® probiotics contain the bacterium Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CRL 1505, which has been clinically proven to enhance resistance to respiratory infections. These probiotics also include vitamin D, which contributes to proper immune system function, and beta-glucans from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which serve as nourishment for the microbiome.

Prepare for the return to school and order iMunobiom+® today.