Don’t let sickness ruin your child’s summer

April 7, 2016

Don’t let sickness ruin your child’s summer

When the raining days ends, parents everywhere could rest a little easier knowing their children will now be safe from the bouts of colds and coughing that seem to go with the cold and rainy weather. With the lowered risk of rainy day sniffles, what else is there to watch out for?

It's summer, but this isn't a reason to completely let one's guard down. The warmest parts of the year also have their fair share of communicable diseases. According to the Department of Health, flu-like symptoms such as colds and cough could manifest in the summer because of erratic weather patterns and sudden downpour.

With weak immunity, your child can easily contract these diseases and more; an unfortunate possibility that places the damper on any summer plans. Summer vacation is an important part of any child’s life, but they run the risk of missing out on the season when they get sick.

Diseases are easily preventable and thankfully, it's fairly easy to start strengthening your child's immune system. By incorporating fruits, especially pineapples, into their daily diets, children can develop the bodily immunity needed to fearlessly take on the coming summer months.

Dr. Leonora Panlasigui, Dean of the Philippine Women’s University’s School of Nutrition, found that adding 2 servings of Del Monte Pineapples to a child's daily diet may help improve overall immunity. The study showed a 27% increase in the production of granulocytes, a type of white blood cell vital to combating diseases, in children who ate 2 servings of pineapple a day, resulting in reduced recovery time for bacterial and viral infections.

“Even a single serving of fruit a day could make all the difference with your child’s health,” says Dr. Panlasigui.

“One serving is good, but the general consensus recommends two servings a day. It’s pretty easy to build a fun, tasty habit with the kids that will benefit them in the long run.”