Therapeutic Diet Recipes for Childhood Asthma

1. Ginger-Honey Syrup (for cold-type asthma)

Ingredients: 30g fresh ginger, 50g honey

Mash ginger to extract juice, mix thoroughly with honey, divide into three portions and take with warm water.

2. Steamed Pumpkin with Honey and Rock Sugar (for cold-type asthma)

Ingredients: 1 whole pumpkin, 50ml honey, 30g rock sugar

Cut an opening on the top of the pumpkin, scoop out part of the pulp, pour in honey and rock sugar, cover the opening, place on a plate and steam for 1 hour before eating.

3. Fresh Reed Rhizome Congee (for heat-type asthma)

Ingredients: 150g fresh reed rhizome, 10g bamboo shavings, 50g japonica rice, 15g rock sugar

Chop and wash reed rhizome, simmer together with bamboo shavings in water for 20 minutes, strain to retain the liquid. Add japonica rice to cook congee, stir in rock sugar once done.

Foods Children with Asthma Must Avoid

1. Milk and dairy products

Milk is the top trigger of allergic asthma in children. Breastfeeding is strongly recommended for infants to reduce the risk of milk-induced allergic asthma.

2. Seafood and aquatic products

The allergens in seafood are heat-resistant; even cooked seafood can trigger asthma, and stale seafood sharply raises attack risks. All seafood should be restricted.

3. Certain fruits

A small number of fruits may induce allergic asthma, including peaches, apples, bananas, strawberries, cherries and coconuts. Extra caution is required when feeding these fruits.

4. Chicken eggs

Eggs frequently trigger allergic diseases, including asthma attacks. Children may eat only egg yolks (avoid egg whites) to lower asthma risk: ovalbumin in egg white is the main allergen, while yolk contains almost no ovalbumin and rarely causes allergies.