1. Cold and raw foods. Avoid cold drinks or frozen beverages during coughing. Consuming excessively cold foods may obstruct lung qi, worsen symptoms, and prolong recovery.
2. Rich, greasy foods. Traditional Chinese medicine attributes coughs primarily to lung heat, especially in children. During coughing episodes, children's gastrointestinal function is weakened. Fried foods increase digestive burden, promote dampness and heat, generate phlegm, and hinder recovery.
3. Fishy-smelling seafood like shrimp and crab. Children with coughs may experience worsened symptoms after consuming fishy foods. This is related to the irritation of the respiratory tract by the fishy odor and potential protein allergies to seafood. Children allergic to certain fish or eggs should be especially cautious, with silver carp and hairtail posing the greatest risk.
4. Sweet and sour foods. Sour foods often thicken phlegm, making it harder to cough up and worsening the condition. During severe coughing, apples, bananas, oranges, grapes, and similar fruits should be avoided. Consuming sweets also promotes internal heat, hindering the resolution of inflammation.
5. Oranges. Many believe oranges relieve coughs and dissolve phlegm, so they encourage coughing children to eat more. While orange peel does have these effects, the flesh actually generates heat and phlegm.
6. Peanuts, sunflower seeds, chocolate, etc. These foods are high in oils, which can increase phlegm production and worsen coughing.
7. Tonics. While some parents give tonics to children with weak constitutions, these should be discontinued during active coughing to prevent prolonging recovery.