Mass. doctor offers tips to keep kids healthy and in the classroom

For many parents, the start of the school year kicks off a push to keep kids as healthy as possible — and keep them in the classroom. Dr. Todd Ellerin, chief of infectious diseases at South Shore Health, came up with a handy acronym to help in this mission: HENSS. “The ‘H’ is hygiene. Good handwashing is important. If you’re sick, obviously you want to stay home,” Ellerin said. The “E” in Ellerin’s equation is for “exercise.””Whether it’s walking, running, yoga, bike, really the key is moving around,” he explained.The “N” is for “nutrition.””A balanced diet, healthy proteins, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, balanced meals,” said Ellerin. And finally the two “S’s” — starting with “sleep.””It really is underrated. We want to try to get seven or eight hours of sleep. I know, I try and I miss that mark a lot,” Ellerin admitted. “But that helps us have a fresh start to each day.”And the final “S”: “Screen time.””Minimize screen time,” Ellerin advises. “We’re all on our screens, but we want to try to minimize it otherwise it’s going to affect other things like our sleep.”Out of all of this, Ellerin says diet and exercise really are the immunity super stars. “It boosts immune cells. It reduces stress, decreases inflammation,” he explained. “All of those things tie in to really enhancing the immune response, which can defend us against bacteria, viruses and a lot of other pathogens that we have to fight off everyday.”

BOSTON —

For many parents, the start of the school year kicks off a push to keep kids as healthy as possible — and keep them in the classroom.

Dr. Todd Ellerin, chief of infectious diseases at South Shore Health, came up with a handy acronym to help in this mission: HENSS.

“The ‘H’ is hygiene. Good handwashing is important. If you’re sick, obviously you want to stay home,” Ellerin said.

The “E” in Ellerin’s equation is for “exercise.”

“Whether it’s walking, running, yoga, bike, really the key is moving around,” he explained.

The “N” is for “nutrition.”

“A balanced diet, healthy proteins, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, balanced meals,” said Ellerin.

And finally the two “S’s” — starting with “sleep.”

“It really is underrated. We want to try to get seven or eight hours of sleep. I know, I try and I miss that mark a lot,” Ellerin admitted. “But that helps us have a fresh start to each day.”

And the final “S”: “Screen time.”

“Minimize screen time,” Ellerin advises. “We’re all on our screens, but we want to try to minimize it otherwise it’s going to affect other things like our sleep.”

Out of all of this, Ellerin says diet and exercise really are the immunity super stars.

“It boosts immune cells. It reduces stress, decreases inflammation,” he explained. “All of those things tie in to really enhancing the immune response, which can defend us against bacteria, viruses and a lot of other pathogens that we have to fight off everyday.”