if your kids have never had the flu, what do you feed them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anecdata aside, diet is not going to make more than a small difference at the margins.

The most salient factors are probably, in this order:

1) Pure luck in terms of encountering carriers
2) Genetic/in utero/birth circumstance influence on the immune system that you have almost no control over
3) Flu shot
4) Hygiene (Maybe tied for #3)
5) Pretty much everything else that has any influence at all (sleep, diet, etc.)

Agree with this. I'm the PP with the physician spouse. I will say whenever spouse has a string of shifts and is severely sleep-deprived, they get a cold/flu. I think at least for some people, there is a link between sleep deprivation and immunity.

[Anonymous]

The genetic link has been shown during bottlenecks in human history. Think of the bubonic plague. In some cases entire families survived which was tied back to specific genetic haplotypes that are better at fighting infection.

[Anonymous]

12 year old. No flu. No flu shot (bad reaction once) Her diet has varied from very balanced with lots of fruits and vegetables of all kinds to eating only hamburgers for a year. That doesn't seem to make a difference in her overall health, just in my frustration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mostly cheese and carbs. He's shockingly healthy.

Same here. My 3rd grader has never missed a day of school and has had a few strep and stomach bugs in his life, that's it. Younger child rarely gets sick either.

[Anonymous]

Three kids 13-10. They've never had a flu shot (are otherwise fully vaccinated on time). I've never had the flu and im 44.

We eat whole foods and don't drink (well, I don't, obviously they dont)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s genes. Some people are always sick.

Just wondering-were they IVF?

What is your theory regarding IVF and influenza?

I have 12 year old fraternal twins via IVF. Neither has ever had the flu. We get the flu shot every year, eat a far from perfect diet (plenty of junk food), take vitamins, and wash hands frequently. DH and I both got the flu the same year at least 20 years ago (before we started getting the flu shot every year), and haven’t had it since.

I have heard about some correlation between asthma and other conditions with IVF. There is little long term research on it and it seems related to genetic make up. Was just wondering whether there might be a connection there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Three kids 13-10. They've never had a flu shot (are otherwise fully vaccinated on time). I've never had the flu and im 44.

We eat whole foods and don't drink (well, I don't, obviously they dont)

I drink tons, and I've never had the flu. These are not related. But thanks for sharing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three kids 13-10. They've never had a flu shot (are otherwise fully vaccinated on time). I've never had the flu and im 44.

We eat whole foods and don't drink (well, I don't, obviously they dont)

I drink tons, and I've never had the flu. These are not related. But thanks for sharing.

Anytime! Bottoms up, brah.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three kids 13-10. They've never had a flu shot (are otherwise fully vaccinated on time). I've never had the flu and im 44.

We eat whole foods and don't drink (well, I don't, obviously they dont)

I drink tons, and I've never had the flu. These are not related. But thanks for sharing.

Same.

[Anonymous]

One of mine had Flu B a few years ago, but never anything else. We get flu shots, wash hands, but rarely use hand-sanitizer or do anything else.

I think it's just the luck of the draw with your immune system. I've had flu maybe twice in my life.

[Anonymous]

DS 16 and in 10th grade had the flu in 7th and 8th grade and stomach viruses in 9th and 10th grades. We all get the flu shot.

DS 12 and in 6th grade has had none of these illnesses.

We feed them the same thing and DS16 actually sleeps better than DS12. No rhyme or reason.

[Anonymous]

One had the flu last year and one has never had it. They eat the same things and both got the flu shot. One just has historically had a weaker immune system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We use Ocillococcinum at the first sign of cough, cold, chills, sore throat etc.

Hand washing and gargles with warm water and salt.

Multi vitamins, zinc tablets, ginger juice in warm water with honey and turmeric.

Flu shots every year, two weeks before school opens.

Finally, I keep them home at the first sign of any ailment and let them rest. Usually with Ocillococcinum and the various hot drinks and sleep, they are fully recovered in 24 hours.

Those are sugar pills. Save your money.

[Anonymous]

I think some people are just prone to the flu. I've had it several times in my life. I've gotten it when I had the flu shot and when I haven't. (Although now that i'm old mid-40s I always get the shot. I wasn't so diligent in my 20s.)

My son has never had the flu, and he's not a particularly healthy eater or good hand-washer. (despite my best efforts.) Daughter has had the flu and she is a slightly healthier eater.

[Anonymous]

We have never had the flu. The oldest is seven and has antibiotics twice; youngest is five and one round of antibiotics. Youngest is two and none.

We eat goldfish crackers and Eggo waffles. Pasta and pizza most nights. The oldest hasn’t eaten a vegetable since purées. Obviously I think a focus on diet for immune health is just anxiety trying to control things.

We all sleep a lot and well, though.