Mung beans, Garnelen und Spinat

Munggo, Shrimps and Spinach

My son has suffered with bronchitis over the past year and a half. In my effort to help him overcome it and aside from the Doctor's advice, I researched a lot about bronchitis and found out that somehow it can develop in children with low-iron diet. Which in turn could be caused by poor absorption of iron and not necessarily by eating iron-less foods.

Iron is a necessary mineral for body function and good health. Every red blood cell in the body contains iron in its hemoglobin, the pigment that carries oxygen to the tissues from the lungs.

Iron deficiency weakens the immunity sytem which leads to other complications. As for Charlie, when he's exposed to some irritants, his bronchial tubes are affected causing difficulties in breathing and other symptoms that makes me cry. =(

This recipe is a good combination of iron rich foods which all my kids (yes, not only Charlie) likes. Mung beans are rich in iron, thiamin, magnesium and folate, which help many other bodily functions for optimum health. Shrimps, like other seafoods are also a good source of iron. Spinach also has iron but contains phytate (an iron absorption inhibitor), that is why it is a good thing that this recipe includes tomatoes. They are a good source of vitamin C which helps in the body's absorption of iron.

My apologies for not providing enough photos this time.

Ingredients:

Garlic

Onion

Ginger

Tomatoes

Munggo

Shrimp (shelled and devein)

Spinach

Water

Fish Sauce

Pepper

How to:

1. Boil the mung beans in a large cooking pot or pressure cooker. While waiting for them to tenderize; mince garlic and ginger, cut onions and tomatoes.

2. In a separate pan, saute garlic, onions and ginger. Throw in the tomatoes when the onions become transparent. Put the shrimps next. Season with fish sauce (or salt) and pepper. Set aside.

3. When the mung beans are tender enough, put in the pan contents together in the pot. Add a little water and season according to taste. Add the spinach on top and let cook on the still hot-turned-off- stove =D.

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There's a significant change in Charlie's condition somehow. When bronchitis 'attacks' it doesnt take more than 7 days compared to 2 weeks or more before.

(Disclaimer: This recipe will not cure bronchitis, but it will help people with iron-deficiency thereby strenghtening the immune system.)