Travel is a fun part of life but can also challenge the immune system. Consuming nutrient-dense, whole foods prior to travel and throughout a trip can greatly support immune health.

The immune system is a complex network of cells and signaling molecules that defend the body against infection. It requires careful coordination of many different types of cells, each with a specific role to play.

A child’s immune system is rapidly and continuously developing throughout their first years of life. The relative immaturity of the average immune system in a child versus an adult tends to cause a greater susceptibly to infectious disease in children, particularly those infections related to the upper respiratory tract. Some of the most common infections children experience include tonsillitis, otitis media (ear infection), and viral upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) such as the common cold and influenza. In the United States, it is estimated that children have between six and eight URTIs per year.1