Food is Medicine: Anti Viral, Anti Foods That Are Kid Friendly

It is far more effective & far gentler & to incorporate antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic foods and herbs into a child’s regular diet than to wait until they’re dealing with a full-blown infection that requires a rigorous or aggressive cleanse. FOOD IS MEDICINE. A child who is gently supported on a regular basis is more protected than a child who is only given remedies in crisis.

By turning meals into medicine, you weave immunity, resilience, and balance into the very fabric of their development.

Here’s why:

Children’s immune systems are still developing. They’re more vulnerable to environmental toxins, pathogens, and foodborne exposures. By consistently including antiviral and antifungal foods in their diet….like garlic, coconut oil, blueberries, and pumpkin seeds you build an internal terrain that is unwelcoming to pathogens.

Instead of waiting for illness to strike, you’re fortifying their system daily, making them more resilient to whatever is circulating.

Rigorous antifungal, antiviral, or parasitic cleanses can be hard on a child’s liver, kidneys, and gut microbiome….especially if done improperly or too frequently. Detox pathways in children are not as developed as in adults, so sudden die-off symptoms (like fatigue, rashes, irritability, digestive issues) can overwhelm their system.

But when you approach it gently, through daily using food as medicine…..you minimize the risk of overstimulation and discomfort while still achieving the same goal over time.

Let’s be honest…..children are far more likely to eat garlic in soup, drink elderberry syrup in their tea, or enjoy pumpkin seeds as a snack than they are to willingly drink strong-tasting tinctures for two weeks straight during a cleanse.

Incorporating healing foods consistently reduces the stress for both child and caregivers that often comes with emergency detox protocols……

Incorporate these whole, nourishing foods regularly:

• Garlic (lightly cooked) – Antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial

• Coconut oil – Contains caprylic acid (natural antifungal)

• Bone broth – Supports gut lining, mineral-rich

• Pumpkin seeds – Anti-parasitic and rich in zinc

• Green apples – Less sugar, liver-supportive

• Blueberries – Antioxidant and anti-viral properties

• Sweet potatoes – Vitamin A-rich, gentle on the gut

• Zucchini, spinach, broccoli – Immune-supportive veggies

• Fermented foods (small amounts) – e.g. coconut yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi

• Herbal teas (mild, child-safe) – Chamomile, rooibos, ginger, fennel

Foods to Limit or Avoid

• Refined sugar

• Processed dairy

• Commercial bread and pastries (yeast feeds fungus)

• Fruit juices (high in sugar, low in fiber)

• Artificial additives, dyes, and sweeteners

• Repeated use of antibiotics (unless truly necessary)

Immune-Boosting Tinctures & Remedies (Child-Safe)

Tinctures (glycerite-based or alcohol-free)

• Elderberry – Antiviral and immune protective

• Olive Leaf – Antiviral, antibacterial (start low, monitor)

• Astragalus Root – Strengthens immunity and resilience( add tincture drop to spoonful of local honey)

• Cat’s Claw (age 5+ in small doses) – Antiviral and antifungal. I love making this in tea form, add cinnamon! Great summer drink!

• Lemon Balm – Calming and antiviral (great for sleep support too) Excellent before bedtime.

Always choose glycerin-based tinctures for children, and follow age-appropriate dosing.

Additional Remedies & Supplements

• Vitamin C (whole food-based or acerola cherry powder)

• Zinc (low-dose liquid form for children)

• Probiotics (spore-based or multi-strain blends made for kids)

• Colloidal Silver (short term use only) – For acute infections, under supervision

• Cod Liver Oil – Anti-inflammatory and rich in vitamins A & D

• Bee Propolis (spray or tincture) – Natural immune shield (check for allergy)

Daily Rituals to Strengthen Immunity

• Outdoor play and sun exposure (vitamin D!)

• Gentle sweating (warm baths, movement)

• Emotional safety and regulated routines

• Lymphatic massage or dry brushing (light strokes)

Spiritual + Energetic Protection for Children

• Regular anointing with blessed oils (frankincense, myrrh, or calendula-infused oil)

• Smoke cleansing of room (lavender, rosemary, or mugwort—not around infant lungs)

• Bedtime prayers + grounding rituals

• Placing black tourmaline, selenite, or obsidian near their beds

• Limiting screen time and overstimulating content