What should children eat to cure cold, cough and sore throat?

When children have a cold, cough, and sore throat, they can choose some foods that can soothe the throat, relieve inflammation, and promote recovery from the cold, such as warm honey water, light chicken soup, and fresh fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C. At the same time, pay attention to drinking plenty of water to keep the throat moist. If the symptoms persist or worsen, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

1. Warm honey water

Honey water has a good throat moistening effect, which can relieve throat discomfort caused by coughing, thus helping to relieve sore throat. It is recommended to add natural honey to warm water not exceeding 40℃, stir well and let the child drink it in small amounts multiple times. Note that honey is not suitable for infants under 1 year old to avoid the risk of botulism infection.

2. Light chicken soup

Studies have shown that the amino acids in chicken soup have anti-inflammatory properties and can help relieve cold-related symptoms. Preparing light, warm chicken soup for children not only replenishes water and nutrients to the sick body, but also relieves inflammation faster. Avoid adding too much salt and pungent spices to the soup to avoid further irritating the throat.

3. Foods rich in vitamin C

Vitamin C has a positive effect on enhancing immunity and shortening the course of colds. Foods suitable for children include fresh oranges, kiwis, strawberries and other fruits, or vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower. If the cough is severe or the throat is obviously painful, you can squeeze the juice of these fruits, mash them into puree, dilute them with warm water and drink them, which can moisten the throat and facilitate digestion and absorption.

4. Stay hydrated

Sufficient water can help dilute phlegm, relieve cough, keep the throat moist and relieve pain. In addition to water, warm rice soup, lotus seed soup and other clear soup foods are also good choices.

5. Avoid spicy food

During a cold and cough, spicy foods such as chili peppers and fried foods can easily induce or aggravate coughs and throat discomfort and should be completely avoided. Cold drinks and carbonated drinks can also irritate the throat, so it is recommended to choose warm liquid foods.

If cold symptoms persist for more than a week, or if your child has severe symptoms such as high fever, shortness of breath, hoarseness, etc., you should seek medical attention immediately. Make sure your child gets enough rest and avoids fatigue and excessive activity to better help the body recover.