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Childhood Asthma Nutrition

Deficiencies in certain nutrients may be responsible for the ever-increasing number of asthma attacks that children are having in many countries all over the globe. No single food is necessarily responsible for causing asthma in children, but Anthony Seaton, M.D., professor of environmental medicine at Scotland's Aberdeen University Medical School, asserts that it is rather a combination of various foods that can increase a child's chances of having an attack and that certain foods offer positive asthma prevention benefits.

  1. Antioxidant Rich Foods

    • Children should consume a lot of fruits and veggies containing antioxidants, which can help alleviate issues with asthma. According to Lawrence S. Greene, Ph.D., director of the Biology of Human Populations Program at the University of Massachusetts, when children are fed foods high in antioxidants, it helps to improve immunological functioning. Greene contends that when children are getting adequate health care and vaccinations, the immune system has less work to do and is causing problems in children internally. Since children are less likely to get various infections, the body's immune system is producing too many Th1 cells for disease defense. These cells are capable of inflaming and injuring a child's airways and causing the onset of asthmatic conditions. Foods containing high levels of vitamin A, C, and E are, therefore, highly recommended; these vitamins are high in antioxidants and have the ability to suppress Th1 levels.

    Vitamin A Food Sources

    • Vitamin A foods contain phytochemicals with high antioxidant levels; the antioxidants diminish inflammation and also diminish tissue damage in the airways. Children ages 1 to 3 require 300 micrograms of vitamin A daily; children ages 4 to 8 require 400 micrograms daily, and children ages 9 to 13 need 600 micrograms every day. Teens ages 14 to 18 require 700 to 900 micrograms of vitamin A every day. Foods containing high amounts of vitamin A include calf, beef, eggs, chicken liver, cottage cheese, butter, dark green veggies, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, squash, cantaloupe, carrots, mangoes, peaches and apricots.

    Vitamin B6 Food Sources

    • Intake of adequate amounts of Vitamin B6 help children with asthma have fewer asthmatic attacks, less coughing, less wheezing and fewer respiratory difficulties. Vitamin B6 is a supplement that promotes healthy immunological functioning and foods sources include salmon, shrimp, tuna, turkey, chicken, soybeans, spinach, brown rice, sunflower seeds, whole-grain flour, wheat germ, bran, sunflower seeds and lentils. Children ages 1 to 3 need .5 milligrams a day, ages 4 to 8 require .6 milligram per day, ages 9 to 13 need 1 milligram a day, and teens need 1.3 milligrams a day.

    Vitamin C Food Sources

    • Vitamin C is high in antioxidants, and, therefore, helps to protect a child's airway and promotes proper immunological functioning. Food sources high in vitamin C include raw and cooked dark-green veggies, spinach, turnip greens, red peppers, green peppers, potatoes, pineapples, winter squash, raspberries, cranberries, blueberries, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, oranges, kiwis, mangos, cantaloupes, grapefruit, and strawberries. Children ages 6 to 12 need 15 mg daily; children 4 to 8 years of age need 25 mg daily; children 9 to 13 need 45 mg every day, and teens 14 to 18 need 65 mg of vitamin C a day.

    Vitamin E Food Sources

    • Vitamin E is another vitamin high in antioxidants needed for asthma defense. Food sources for vitamin E include wheat germ, eggs, sunflower seeds, mayonnaise, olive oil, corn oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil and safflower oil. Dark-green veggies, beets, collards, turnips, mustard, avocados, yams, sweet potatoes, asparagus, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts and liver are also excellent sources for vitamin E. Children ages 1 to 3 need 9 International Units (IU) daily, children ages 4 to 8 need 10.5 IU daily, children ages 9 to 13 need 16.5 IU daily, and teens ages 14 to 18 need 22.5 IU of Vitamin E every day.

    Foods to Avoid

    • As mentioned earlier, there are foods that must be avoided in order to prevent asthmatic conditions. A child with asthma should stay away from cakes, sugary foods, and chocolates; these foods cause the body to make excessive mucous. Mucus then disrupts the airways and irritates the respiratory system. Foods high in salt content should also be avoided.

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