Important Steps Towards Preventing Food Allergies In Children

By Sharon Thompson


Food allergies are common in kids and they vary in seriousness from mild reactions to life threatening ones. The most common food allergens include eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, crustacean shellfish, wheat and soy. Researchers have not yet figured out the precise etiology of allergies caused by foods and the reasons why cases of allergies are on the rise. However, research suggests that parents can take some steps to prevent them. The following is a guide to preventing food allergies in children.

You can prevent food allergies in minors by maintaining a healthy maternal diet. The nutrition of children begins before birth. The foods that you eat when pregnant will have a significant effect on the health of your child. It is essential to ensure that you follow a balanced diet consisting of healthy foods like lean meat, dairy products, fruits, whole grains and vegetables.

A research study completed in Finland in 2011 showed that if women who are likely to suffer from type one diabetes drank more cows milk when pregnant, their babies were less likely to be allergic to milk. Another study completed in 2012 in Denmark showed that if pregnant women consumed more peanuts and tree nuts, their kids were less likely to be allergic to nuts or to develop asthma. Taking prenatal vitamins and supplements is also important because they prevent health issues like birth defects.

Parents should also be careful when weaning their babies. They should try to avoid introducing solid foods until their infants are about four or six months old. It is also wise for them to introduce new foods one at a time like every 2 to 3 days so that they can note any reactions.

Another allergy prevention measure is ensuring that meals are well prepared. Plants have a natural toxin called phytic acid, which protects them from predators. If foods are not well cooked, the natural toxins in them are not denatured. This causes inflammation and decreases nutrient absorption. In order to ensure that your kids benefit the most from plant foods like legumes, nuts and grains, you can soak and sprout them before cooking.

Keeping inflammation low is also essential. You should make sure that the diet of your child contains many anti inflammatory elements. You can incorporate fermented foods into the diet to enhance digestion. You should also include nutrient dense foods to the diet to strengthen the immune system of your child.

It is also vital to include gut healing foods in the diet of your child early. There are various gut damaging contaminants in the modern times, including pollution, antibiotics, heavy metals and pesticides among others. These contaminants kill the beneficial bacteria in the gut and affect immune function. Gut healing foods like fermented foods and bone broth will repair the daily gut damage.

It is also possible to prevent allergies in kids by ensuring that they drink clean water every day. Water that is filtered and free from chemicals plays the role of a detoxifier. If water is not clean enough, the body works harder to detoxify itself. It is also important to ensure that your home is free from indoor pollution.




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