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54 HEALTH MOTHER AND BABY FROM PAGE 52 that response over time can in fact cause some issues. We look at eczema, we look at upper respiratory tract infections. It’s been shown that ... kids with poor immune function have more risk of \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\[these conditions\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\].” While measures have been needed to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Mr Quigley suggests the way to maintain a healthy immune system while adhering to the necessary measures is to “increase microbial exposure ... \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\[through the\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\] use of pre- and probiotics”. “Balancing the intestinal microflora with pre- and probiotics has been shown to be an effective and safe therapy for the natural development of a balanced immune defence in infants and children,” he said. “But in adults and in older people, pre- and probiotics can certainly be used to improve the general functioning of the immune system.” Referring to the role of the gut in immunity, Melanie McGrice, fertility and prenatal dietitian at Nutrition Plus, says that while the “gut is incredibly complex” – “70 per cent of our immune tissue is found within our gut bacteria because the digestive system is the most common way pathogens get into our body” – “the greater the diversity of microbes, the healthier one’s gut, and therefore the immunity system”. “When it comes to optimising kids’ gut health, the most important considerations are to provide a variety of different nutritious foods – aiming for at least 30 different foods each day – including more plant-based foods, and including prebiotic and fermented foods,” she said. Adding to the discussion on how to improve the gut health in children to build immunity, Natasha Schilling, accredited practising dietitian and spokeswoman for Dietitians Australia, adds that the “best way to keep our children’s gut health is by choosing a variety of ... gut-friendly foods”. “The gut microbiome plays an important role in our immune system, and pre- and probiotics in foods may help to assist with our health,” she said. Speaking about the potential impact of Covid-19 restriction measures, Ms McGrice points to some of the positives that have emerged from the pandemic, such as increased home cooking. “Although the extra hygiene measures and social distancing may impact the ability of children to naturally build up immune defences, we need to remember that our immune system is complex and other changes caused by Covid may actually strengthen \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\[children’s\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\] immune systems,” she said. “For example, many families in isolation were cooking more meals at home, many families were making more of a concentrated effort to get outdoors each day, and some families were getting pets.” Elaborating on how the Covid measures might affect immune systems in the long term, Mr Quigley said: “It’s a bit early to tell. We’re probably not yet seeing the outcome of more hygiene than ever over the Covid-19 period. But time will tell. That doesn’t mean we should shy away from maximising the ability of an infant and child’s microbiome to give them the healthiest start they can possibly have in life.” The role of nutrition “Nutrition certainly plays an important role in immunity,” Ms McGrice said. “However, the role is complex. Although there are key micronutrients that play a particularly important role in immune health, such as vitamin D, zinc and vitamin C, taking one supplement won’t automatically boost the immune system. Instead, the best way to boost the immune system through diet is to ensure a nutritionally balanced diet that includes vegetables, fruit and wholegrains, a small amount of lean protein, dairy, and healthy fats.” Ms Schilling says one of the best ways to help support a child’s immune system is “offering children a variety of nutritious foods” as this will help ensure they consume “the variety of nutrients their bodies need to stay healthy”. “We eat food, rather than individual nutrients, so it’s best to encourage your kids to eat whole foods that offer a variety of vitamins and minerals,” she said. “Each food group in the Australian Dietary Guidelines has a key role in helping the growth and development of children ... so rather than focusing on one single nutrient, eating a varied diet is best.” However, she adds that adequate protein intake “plays a key role in repair and recovery, which is important in helping us to maintain our health and immunity”. “Many protein-rich foods are also high in zinc, which helps to assist the development of white blood cells,” she continued. “Aim for a variety of lean red meat, poultry, fish, wholegrains, legumes, dairy foods, nuts and seeds to meet protein needs. When it comes to infants, Ms McGrice says breastfeeding is “one of the best methods for building a healthy immune system, even from mums who may not consumer a nutritious diet”. “In addition to being incredibly nutritious, breast milk actually contains antibodies from the mum, which help to springboard their baby’s immune system,” she said. TO PAGE 56 What affects the immune system According to Professor Apostolopoulos and his team7, lifestyle factors that can weaken the immune system include: • Lack of sleep. • Certain medications and overuse of antibiotics. • Low vitamin D levels. • A diet high in processed foods, and reduced consumption of fruits and vegetables. • Lack of physical activity. • Stress and anxiety. “It’s all about the simple things that we know,” Mr Quigley said. “Adequate and restful sleep makes a difference to immune function. Stress makes a difference, and kids pick up on parent stress if things aren’t happy in the house. Obviously, careful food options, exercise outside, plenty of sunshine for vitamin D – all these things ... there’s no single nutrient or action that’s going to make a significant difference. All these things work in tandem.” Evidently, a combination of lifestyle aspects plays a role in affecting the immune system – positively or negatively. “The wonderful thing is that parents are becoming more and more aware that there’s a way of reducing their child’s exposure to antibiotics: that’s to keep them well in the first place,” Mr Quigley said. “I think this is where pharmacists RETAIL PHARMACY • MAY 2021 can play a really important role with educating parents ... about the balance of regular probiotic supplements. I’m not saying this is the magic solution ... it’s just an additional way of pushing the balance of good bacteria in the direction we want it to go.”