To Prevent Kids' Food Allergies, Start Peanuts, Eggs Sooner

[Mosby]

Amid rising rates of children’s food allergies, surprising new guidelines call for introducing babies at ages 4 to 6 months to the most allergenic foods—as a strategy to prevent food allergies.

New scientific data suggests that early introduction of highly allergenic foods—such as milk, eggs, peanuts, soy, and shellfish—may reduce children’s risk for developing food allergies, according to new recommendations from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), published in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.

The recommendations are a dramatic reversal of American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines issued in 2000, which advise delaying milk until high-risk kids reach age 1; eggs until age 2; and peanuts, shellfish, tree nuts, and fish to age 3.


http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/prevent-kids-food-allergies-start-peanuts-eggs-sooner

[SheilaT]

1. Fascinating. And certainly makes sense.

The hyper-vigilant attitude of OMG!! EVERYTHING IS DANGEROUS is not a good way to raise kids.

[womanofthehills]

2. I never had food allergies till ...

my whole neighborhood became ill after being sprayed with Malathion 4 days in a row for mosquito control. In my 50's for the first time in my life I was so allergic to most foods that I lived on bananas and oranges (no protein) for months. If I ate any other foods, my throat would close. I moved to the country where the air was extremely clean and now I can eat almost anything. However, I only eat organic. I feel the study is too simplistic. Pesticides and chemicals can really mess with your digestion and immune system.