Many parents believe that oranges can relieve coughs and reduce phlegm, so they let children with coughs eat more oranges. In fact, orange peel does have the effect of relieving coughs and reducing phlegm, but the orange pulp itself generates heat, accumulates dampness, and produces phlegm. However, it is unlikely for a child to eat only the peel and not the pulp. Therefore, when a child has a cough, it is best not to eat too many citrus fruits.
Generally speaking, cold and raw foods are not suitable for children with coughs. Coughs are mostly caused by lung problems that lead to obstruction of lung qi and the upward reversal of lung qi. At this time, if the diet is still too cold, it can easily cause lung qi to become obstructed, worsening the symptoms and prolonging the illness. In addition, consuming too many cold and raw foods can damage the spleen and stomach, leading to a decline in their function.
Fatty, sweet, and rich foods should be strictly avoided. Coughs are often caused by lung heat, especially in children. In daily diet, eating too many fatty, sweet, and rich foods can generate internal heat, aggravate the cough, and lead to thick, sticky phlegm that is difficult to expel. For children with asthma, overeating these foods can cause phlegm-heat to accumulate, obstruct the respiratory tract, worsen asthma, and make the disease difficult to cure.
During a cough, a child's diet should be light. For children with a long-lasting cough that does not heal, pear water boiled with rock sugar can be consumed to moisten the lungs and relieve the cough. Congee cooked with lily and rice is also very effective for children who have had a cough for a long time and have deficient lung qi. For a common cold and cough, one can buy 50 grams of loquat leaf from a pharmacy, decoct it in water, and then use the medicinal water to cook congee with rice for the child to take, which has good results.